JAKARTA (April 6, 2020) - The Ministry of Social Affairs will immediately distribute 200 thousand groceries packages to the residents of DKI Jakarta. This action is intended to provide social protection to communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The distribution of the packages is planned to be distributed in stages starting on Wednesday (8/4).

The Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara, said that the provision of the packages is carried out to keep the community from going home which could potentially spread COVID-19 to more people.

"This is an appeal from the President so that the residents are less motivated to return to their hometown. Hence we provide groceries packages. This is also a manifestation of the Ministry of Social Affairs being present for the community", said the Minister while reviewing preparations for distribution of groceries packages in the Kalibata Main National Heroes Cemetery Convention Complex Building, South Jakarta, Monday (6/4).

Meanwhile, according to the Director of Social Protection for Natural Disasters Victims (PSKBA), M. Syafii Nasution, the packages are for People in Oversight (ODP), Patients in Oversight (PDP), and informal workers such as motorcycle taxi drivers, labourers, street vendors, and others. While the distribution mechanism is done through the Social Service Tribes (Sudinsos) in each region in DKI Jakarta.

"The main role for the distribution will be the Sudinsos as they already hold the data of the village office in which the source of the data was from the hamlet/neighbourhood. Those who are ODP, PDP, informal sector workers, daily workers, taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers are our targets", said Syafii.

After going through Sudinsos, the packages will be distributed directly through the village head to each resident according to the data. It is targeted that the process of distributing 200 thousand groceries packages will last for the next two weeks.