Despite Heavy Rain, the Ministry of Social Affairs Ensures that Social Assistance is Still Distributed

TANGERANG (April 15th 2020) - Despite the heavy rain, the Ministry of Social Affairs team still ensures that social assistance to the community in the context of handling COVID-19 is still distributed.

A total of 2,000 packages of basic and 2,000 boxes of rice were handed over to residents of Jombang Village, Ciputat District, South Tangerang, Thursday afternoon (15/4). This area is one of the capital's buffer areas with the most populous area and is now ranked second in the red zone in the spread of COVID-19.

"This means a lot to us. We have been given rice, sugar, tea, milk", said Amah's grandmother when receiving the aid.

Living with her four grandchildren, every day Grandma Amah still works to make pandanus mats which she sells for Rp. 230,000 per sheet. "This tragedy, the price of goods is expensive, thank God we got help from the Ministry of Social Affairs," she said.

"I wish you good health, long life. Thank you for providing assistance. The rain, soaking wet, you want to stop by here, keep caring for us," said the 97-year-old grandmother with great emotion when visited at her house by the Ministry of Social Affairs team led by the wife of the Minister of Social Affairs, Grace Batubara.

Grace, as the Advisor for the Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) of the Ministry of Social Affairs, who is also a member of the Era Solidarity Action Organization (Oase) of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet visited the residents of Jombang Village to hand over the social assistance directly.

Having run around in the narrow alleys during the heavy rain, it did not dampen Grace's spirit to meet the community. Even though she was soaking wet, Grace greeted the villagers of Jombang with smiles from their homes.

"I am here to ensure that the country remains present in the midst of the people affected by COVID-19. Let us strengthening each other. Hopefully we can get through this as soon as possible. Let's pray together, what we feel together now can end soon," she said.

For the past two weeks, Grace has visited various areas in Greater Jakarta every day to ensure that social assistance in the form of food packages and fast food can be enjoyed by people in need.

"I hope our country can return to how it was before," she said hopefully at the end of the meeting.