The Mayor Of Kediri Does Not Believe That A Resident Of Mother And Child Dies Because Of Starvation

Mayor of Kediri Abdullah Abu Bakar (ANTARA)

KEDIRI - Kediri Mayor Abdullah Abu Bakar doubts the case of a pair of mothers and children dying from hunger in his house. He said this was not without reason. The mayor of Kediri, who is familiarly called Mas Abu, explained the background of the victim's daily life.

It is known that two victims who died were found in their house, Singonegaran Village, Pesantren District, Kediri City, East Java, yesterday.

"If you are starving, I don't think so, because the neighbors there are also very close to Mrs. Utami. Neighbors often provide food, and Mrs. Utami also gets government assistance," said Mas Abu, Thursday, September 21.

He explained that the residents had received assistance from the Government since 2019, then. The Government assistance was given to Utami in the form of Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) worth IDR 200,000 per month. Meanwhile, Arief's son received assistance for people with serious disabilities of IDR 500,000 every month.

In addition, said Mas Abu, both of them also received assistance from community empowerment programs in each local village.

"The neighbors also really care, even the funerals were all borne by the Kediri City Government and its neighbors," he explained.

Previously, the Head of the Islamic Boarding School Police, Kompol Sugianto, said that Arif could not move without the help of others. He was declared critical because of hunger not eating for three days.

Utami is known to have a history of stomach acid disease and vertigo was found lying on the floor. He was first found at around 11.30 WIB, last Wednesday.

"The child who was in bed was in critical condition because he did not eat for 3 days. After trying to be rescued and removed from the room by health workers, 10 minutes later his son also died," said Sugianto.

Sugianto explained that Utami's body was first discovered by her neighbor Sunarti (50) who was suspicious for two days that her house was always closed and did not respond to calls.