The Ministry of Social Affairs Collaborates with District Heads to Distribute Nduga Evacuee Aid

JAKARTA (October 14, 2019) - The Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia distributed logistical assistance to conflict victims in Nduga Regency, Papua Province, by collaborating with District Heads for the distribution.

"Thank God, the third and fourth phases of assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs have started to flow to Nduga Regency," said Minister of Social Affairs Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita in Jakarta, Monday night.

The Minister of Social Affairs explained that the Ministry of Social Affairs Team together with the Papua Provincial Social Office and the Jayawijaya District Social Office held meetings with district heads. In this meeting the heads of districts consisting of Mebarok District, Koroptak District and Yigi District expressed their aspirations on behalf of other districts regarding the type of assistance currently urgently needed by evacuees. The assistance was in the form of staple foods including rice, iodized salt, coffee, sugar, cooking oil.

"In distributing this assistance, we involve the District Head and representatives of residents in a number of districts in Nduga Regency to determine their needs, purchase and distribute according to the needs of residents," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

He said the assistance for Nduga had been distributed to the Social Office of the Nduga Regency in four stages. He detailed that the first stage of assistance was food and rice logistics worth IDR 2.5 billion.

The second stage of assistance was in the form of a Equipment Package consisting of elementary to high school school uniforms, children's play equipment, children's learning equipment, sports equipment, equipment for vulnerable groups of the elderly and those with special needs. The total assistance for the second phase was IDR 740,449,000.

The third phase of assistance worth IDR 419,192,985 consists of rice, additional food (anchovies, salt, biscuits, milk) and logistics packages (side dishes, ready-to-eat meals, clothing and children's meals).

"In this fourth stage we involve district heads to help oversee the distribution process. The total assistance for the fourth phase is IDR 651.2 million," explained the Minister of Social Affairs.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Mebarok District, Torry Wandikbo, said that the assistance had been well received by residents. The government assistance in the form of rice was eagerly awaited by them.

"Today we have officially received rice assistance distributed from the Ministry of Social Affairs. Don't think that the people refuse, it's just a lack of coordination. We declare that we accept the assistance and we will pass it on to the community," said Torry.

Acting Head of Public Relations Bureaue RI Ministry of Social Affairs

Sonny W Manalu