Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Ministry of Social Affairs Distributes Basic Food Aid

BEKASI (April 17th 2020) - Located at the "Tanmiyat" Center for Social Rehabilitation of People with Visual Sensory Disabilities (BRSPDSN) and the “Budi Dharma” Social Rehabilitation Center for Elderly (BRSLU), the Ministry of Social Affairs handed over 6,839 packages of social assistance (bansos) of basic foods for persons with disabilities and 4,673 packages for the elderly in Jabodetabek.

The handover of basic food assistance was carried out in accordance with the direction of the Minister of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Juliari P. Batubara as a form of social safety net for persons with disabilities and elderly people affected by COVID-19. The goal is to help fulfill the basic needs of persons with disabilities and elderly people affected by COVID-19 in the Jabodetabek area.

To avoid crowds as a measure to anticipate the spread of COVID-19, aid delivery was provided through representatives from 8 Social Agencies, 20 Social Welfare Institutions (LKS) and 13 Disabled Persons Organizations (OPD), and 93 Elderly Social Welfare Institutions (LKS- LU).

The Director General of Social Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Harry Hikmat accompanied by the Director of Social Rehabilitation for the Elderly, Andi Hanindito had the opportunity to directly observe the process of handing over the basic food assistance. Harry said that assistance with the support of the Directorate General of Social Protection and Security, which is worth 300 thousand rupiah, will be distributed 6 (six) times in 3 (three) months during this pandemic.

"Apart from involving social institutions or LKS, we also involve OPDs in the distribution of assistance for people with disabilities and the elderly, as a form of the Ministry of Social Affairs' commitment to ensure that in this situation affected by COVID-19 there are efforts to ease the burden of spending the burden on persons with disabilities and elderly in meeting their needs," said Harry

Harry also emphasized that the Ministry of Social Affairs will continue to monitor to ensure that the assistance is properly distributed to persons with disabilities who are entitled, whether they are still living in the orphanage or in their houses.