Ministry Of Social Affairs Sends Blankets And Establishes Public Kitchens For Flood Victims

Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara (doc. Ministry of Social Affairs)

JAKARTA - The government, through the Ministry of Social Affairs, has begun sending basic needs assistance to refugees and residents affected by flooding. The aid was distributed to a number of areas in DKI Jakarta, West Bandung Regency and a number of points that could potentially flood in Banten Province.

"We are sending basic needs assistance gradually to the affected areas, as well as activating the field public kitchen and alerting Tagana personnel to help evacuate residents," said Social Minister Juliari P. Batubara in his statement, Wednesday, January 1.

Social Minister Ari explained that natural disaster assistance for DKI Jakarta has been sent from the Ministry of Social Affairs Central Warehouse in Bekasi to the DKI Jakarta Provincial Social Service.

The total assistance amounting to IDR 750 million consists of 2,000 packages of ready-to-eat food assistance, 1,800 packages of children's food assistance, 30 thousand packs of noodles, 500 rolled tents, 8,000 packages of family equipment, 200 sheets of blankets and 100 packages of clothing.

"Public kitchens for DKI Jakarta have been established under the coordination of the DKI Jakarta Social Service. Likewise, public kitchens for flood-affected residents in West Bandung Regency and Bekasi Regency have been running starting this morning with the support of Tagana and the local Social Service," he continued.

In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs has also established a public kitchen in West Bandung Regency centered in Cipeudeuy, Padalarang District to fulfill 3 evacuation points. Public kitchens meet the food needs of 300 refugees and 200 volunteers.

"The focus of handling is the evacuation of refugees to safe places, as well as vulnerable groups consisting of the elderly, children, people with disabilities, and other special groups," said the Minister of Social Affairs @juliaribatubara.

- Ministry of Social Affairs (@KemensosRI) January 1, 2020

Just like in Jakarta, natural disaster relief for West Java Province consists of 1,800 children's food packages, 30 thousand packs of noodles, 3 multipurpose tents, 460 rolled tents, 230 velbeds, 230 mattresses, 1 set of Public Field Kitchen, 920 family equipment packages, 40 clothing packages and 50 Tagana equipment packages.

"Continued logistical support to meet the needs of refugees for the next 3 days will continue to be encouraged in the form of rice and side dishes," he added.

Meanwhile, natural disaster assistance for areas with a potential for flooding, namely Banten Province, is worth Rp.680 million. The assistance consisted of 1,800 packages of children's food, 30 thousand packs of noodles, 400 rolled tents, 200 sheets of mattresses, 800 packages of family equipment and 25 packages of Tagana supplies.

"Furthermore, later we will add with the help of cleaning equipment to help residents and Tagana in cleaning the house and the surrounding environment," he said.

Juliari explained that as President Joko Widodo's direction, in every disaster event the government must immediately step in to fulfill the basic needs of the residents and ensure they are handled properly.

"During a disaster, the task of the Ministry of Social Affairs is to activate a system that has been prepared for integrated natural disaster management. The system in question is the National Cluster coordinated by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) in which the Ministry of Social Affairs is in charge of the Protection and Evacuation Cluster and Logistics Cluster. "he explained.

"The focus of handling is the evacuation of refugees to safe places, as well as vulnerable groups consisting of the elderly, children, people with disabilities, and other special groups," added Juliari.

When a disaster occurs and the local government has established an emergency response status, the Ministry of Social Affairs will try to mobilize all potential natural disaster management, namely the deployment of Tagana and Sahabat Tagana personnel, KSB, Disaster Preparedness Vehicles, supplies, evacuation tools, communication tools and systems, and cooperation. government agencies and NGOs.