MUSI RAWAS UTARA (18 January 2024) - The Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) set up a public kitchen and distributed 3,000 wrapped rice every day. This wrapped rice was distributed to flood victims in Musi Rawas Utara Regency, South Sumatra as seen on Wednesday 17 January 2024. A public kitchen was established in the courtyard of the Asy Syuhada Mosque, and the wrapped rice was distributed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.


Acting Director of MoSA’s Social Protection for Natural Disaster Victims (PSKBA), M. Delmi confirmed that the public kitchen started operating on Saturday, 13 January 2024. "We are focused on the public kitchen so that the affected communities can receive meals first. These residents' houses are submerged, so they can’t cook. So we provide food to residents," he explained.


"We are focused on the public kitchen so that the impacted communities can receive meals first. These residents' homes are inundated, so they cannot cook. So, we provide food to residents," he explained.


Andi Saputra (34), a Rupit resident who was affected by the flood, admitted that his family has not been able to cook at home. This is because his house has been flooded for several days, reaching a height of two meters.


The public kitchen is managed by Muratara Disaster Response Volunteers (Tagana), Lubuklinggau Tagana, Family Hope Program (PKH) Companions, and Community Peace Volunteers, with assistance from local citizens. In total, approximately 40 people work in the MoSA's public kitchen. A total of 3000 wrapped rice were provided to six flood-affected sub-districts: Ulu Rawas, Rawas Ulu, Rupit, Karang Jaya, Karang Dapo, and Rawas Ilir.


"Our house was submerged around two meters high yesterday, and we are still temporarily evacuated. We are also unable to cook because the furniture is still unusable. So, for the time being, we're getting food from the MoSA's public kitchen. We're taking 40 packs for children and residents around the house," Andi explained.


Since Wednesday (10/1), six sub-districts in Musi Rawas Utara Regency have experienced flooding caused by the overflowing Rawas River. Approximately 20,000 houses were flooded. Until recently, there have been no reports of casualties from this incident.