JAKARTA (May 21, 2020) - Ministry of Social Affairs continues to distribute social assistance for vulnerable economic communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara has instructed his staff to always do a monitoring of the process of distribution of basic food assistance until it received by the community affected by COVID-19.

Directorate General of Social Empowerment does not work alone to distributes the assistance to the affected community COVID-19, but they also cooperates with several foundations, associations, LKS, DNIKS, and today with the Indonesian Journalists Family Association (IKWI). IKWI was helping Ministry of Social Affairs to distribute social assistance. A total of 120 food packages that comes from domestic grants were distributed to residents affected by COVID-19 in Cilincing, North Jakarta.

The food packages were distributed to residents whose economy was affected by COVID-19, ranging from those working in the informal sector or those who has daily wages and also layoff victims.

In line with President Joko Widodo's directives which states that informal workers belong to vulnerable economic groups so that social assistance is needed as a temporary buffer for their economy.

The Indonesian Association of Journalists' Family Concern was welcomed by Ministry of Social Affairs. The handling of the COVID-19 outbreak could not be resolved only by the Central Government itself, but it also needed synergy with various parties.

One of the recipients said that he was very happy because during the COVID-19 pandemic his family had only once received basic social assistance.

In its distribution process, the District Social Welfare Workers (TKSK) also helped IKWI distribute the food packages to the beneficiaries. It also aims to reduce the occurrence of crowds and to ensure that the assistance is right on target.