Centralize Aid Distribution, Ministry of Social Affairs Establishes Cawang Main Post

JAKARTA (January 10th 2020) - The Ministry of Social Affairs opened a Disaster Management Post as a logistical aid center for disaster victims in Indonesia, especially in handling floods and landslides in the Greater Jakarta area and its surroundings. This post was established at the Ministry of Social Affairs office in Cawang Kencana, East Jakarta.

"This post is the center to ensure that social assistance, including logistics and our equipment, is on standby whenever needed," said the Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara when visiting the post, Friday (10/1). The Minister explained, in addition to being a logistics warehouse which is centralized in the field, there is a command and information service center at this main post.

According to him, the selection of the Cawang Kencana Building as the main post of the Ministry of Social Affairs was based on considerations of effectiveness. "(Cawang Kencana Building) is close to the toll road that connects access everywhere, so it is effective for us in sending aid," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

The Cawang Main Post, he continued, is a joint post between all technical units in the Ministry of Social Affairs, from the Directorate General of Social Protection and Security to the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation, so that there are quite a few service posts available at the main post.

Responding to disaster emergencies in a number of areas, the Minister of Social Affairs stated that the main post is temporary during the emergency period. "This post will continue to stand until the surrounding areas affected by the disaster have been declared to have entered the recovery period and no longer have an emergency response status," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

At the same place, the Director General of Social Protection and Security, Harry Hikmat, who also accompanied the Minister of Social Affairs' visit, said that with this centralization of the post, the Ministry of Social Affairs is increasingly prepared to face the disaster emergency response period.

"Everything is available here, from the data room, disaster management equipment, boats, including cars and motorbikes, public kitchens in the field, social rehabilitation services, counseling cars, disabled access cars and others," said Harry.

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The Ministry of Social Affairs also opens opportunities for the general public who wish to provide assistance so that it can be distributed through the Cawang Main Post.

"If there are elements of society, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), to companies that want to entrust their assistance, but are constrained by access to the affected locations, they can entrust (assistance) to the Ministry of Social Affairs main post in Cawang. Golden, "said the Minister of Social Affairs.

The Minister of Social Affairs gave an example that the Cawang Main Post had received assistance from PT. Sinar Mas in the form of 350 cartons of mineral water or 8,400 bottles and 300 cartons of biscuits for flood victims or 1,800 small cans which were handed over directly from the Chairman of the Sinar Mas Muslim Foundation, Saleh Husin to the Director General of Social Protection and Security, Harry Hikmat.

Apart from PT. Sinar Mas, several NGOs such as the Wings Group, the Sinar Kasih Indonesia Foundation (YSKI), and Mayora followed up with providing certain assistance at the Cawang Main Post.

"Our post operates 24 hours and we guarantee that the aid will be distributed to places where it is needed," explained the Minister of Social Affairs.

At the end of his visit, the Minister of Social Affairs appealed to all elements to remain alert, "Because the rainfall will continue to be high for the next month, we do not expect another big flood in the future, but of course we must be prepared."

This was conveyed in line with the President's instruction so that the ranks of the Ministry of Social were ready to respond to all bad possibilities so that people affected by floods and landslides could feel the presence of the state in the midst of the difficulties they were experiencing.