JAKARTA (May 18, 2020) - Ministry of Social Affairs continues to distribute social assistance to the communities affected COVID-19. Located at Sasana Krida Karang Taruna Building, Kramat Jati Village, East Jakarta, Director General of Social Empowerment Edi Suharto symbolically handed over social assistance to the table tennis community.

A total of 250 food packages were distributed to the people of the Kramat Jati Kelurahan through a table tennis club that cared for the people affected by COVID-19. The outbreak of COVID-19 literally gives an impact on the community, coaches, referees, and parents of table tennis athletes. Not only people who are included in the table tennis club, but also people who work as laborers, freelance drivers, and online drivers. The community has not been received any social assistance either from central government or regional government of DKI Jakarta. All elements of the community including the informal sector felt the difficulties of economic problems in the last 2 months due to COVID-19. They also had to stop their work for a moment to stay at home and be safe from the virus.

 "We, the central government continue to distribute social assistance to the table tennis community in which there are also informal workers, such as online motorcycle taxi and coaches affected by COVID-19," said Edi Suharto.

"Thank you for the food aid provided to me during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Lutfi, a Table Tennis Young Athlete whose parents' work as an Online Motorcycle taxi Driver.

In line with President Joko Widodo's instruction to accelerate the distribution of social assistance. So, on the same day, Ministry of Social Affairs also distributed social assistance to the affected communities COVID-19 in Tebet, Kemayoran, and Blok M. These social assistances targeted daily informal workers such as motorcycle taxi drivers, bakso sellers, temporary teachers, daily traders, even for the elderly and families who are positive victims of COVID-19.

In every process of distributing basic food aid, the Ministry of Social Affairs involves social pillars ranging from the District Social Welfare Workers (TKSK), Youth Organization (KT), until Community Social Workers (PSM). It is expected that the involvement of these social pillars will help the process of the distribution of basic food assistance run smoothly and right on the target

The Director General of Social Empowerment also advised that if problems occur in the field, people can communicate it with related parties such as RT / RW, SLRT and Puskesos, or the local Social Service.