Nutrition Food Is Still An Urgent Need In The Evacuation Of Sumatra Flood Victims

JAKARTA - The need for nutritious food is still a major challenge for residents who are forced to live in evacuations for victims of Aceh and Sumatra floods. In emergency conditions like this, many families lose access to daily foodstuffs because their kitchens are submerged, food supplies are washed away by the current, or access to the market is cut off due to damaged roads.

In some locations, electricity goes out for days so residents can't store foodstuffs safely. For mothers who bring small children, the situation is getting tougher because toddlers need nutritious intake so they don't fall ill easily.

Especially for the elderly and survivors with certain health conditions, they also face a higher risk when they only rely on instant food for a long time.

Therefore, assistance that comes must immediately reach affected locations and provide options for nutritious food such as eggs, milk, rice, and clean water. Sufficient intake not only reduces the risk of disease, but also maintains the stamina of survivors who still have to face cold air, evacuation density, and post-disaster psychological stress.

"We are committed to moving quickly to provide support for our brothers and sisters affected by the floods in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Our synergy with the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and other institutions is a tangible manifestation of collaboration to ensure that assistance can be distributed properly and immediately," explained JAPFA Director Rachmat Indrajaya in his statement.

Distribution is carried out in stages through coordination with the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and the National Food Agency (Bapanas), including through the JAPFA operational units in various regions in Sumatra.

In West Sumatra, for example, the assistance includes 30,000 eggs, 50 boxes of sterile milk, 100 sacks of 10 kg of rice, and 20 boxes of mineral water. Some of the aid was also channeled with farmer partners to a number of refugee posts to meet the basic food needs of the community.

In addition, together with BPOM Padang, 7,500 eggs were also distributed, 1,000 sterile milk, and 402 food jars ready for consumption. The head of the West Sumatra Disnakeswan, Sukarli, positively welcomed this step and assessed support from various parties, including companies, is very important in restoring the nutritional needs of the flood-affected communities.

Then Aceh, this food company collaborated with PSI to distribute food aid to seven villages in Gandapura District, Bireuen, including Teupin Siron, Samuti Aman, Ie Rhop, Blang Guron, Keude Lapang, Alue Mangki, and Ceubo. Through BPOM Banda Aceh, an additional 200 bags of rice were also distributed to a number of evacuation posts.

Meanwhile in North Sumatra, the distribution of aid was carried out with BPOM Medan. Assistance in the form of sausages, milk, and eggs is distributed to points in need, complementing other support for the recovery of post-flood residents' conditions.

"We will continue to strive to be present in the community, as part of the company's social responsibility. We also convey our prayers and hopes that conditions in the affected areas will recover soon," said Rachmat.