'Sometimes The Rice Eaten By The Elderly Or Orphans Is Given Salt So That It Has A Taste,' The Residents Of The Al-Kautsar Foundation In Palu Are Bitter

Member of Commission IV DPRD Province of Central Sulawesi Ismail Yunus (second from right) visits and provides assistance to residents of an orphanage belonging to the Al-Kautsar Foundation (Via ANTARA)

SULTENG - Seven elderly people and 15 children who live in a nursing home and an orphanage belonging to the Al-Kautsar Foundation in Palu City, Central Sulawesi Province have been eating rice without side dishes for the past week. The reason is because the donations that go to the foundation are very minimal.

This information was disclosed by the Chairperson of the Al-Kautsar Foundation Sabrin O Ladongi while accompanying members of Commission IV of the Central Sulawesi Provincial DPRD Ismail Yunus and the Deputy Chair of the Palu City DPRD, Rizal, seeing the condition of the residents of the orphanage today.

"Sometimes the rice eaten by the elderly and orphans here is given salt so that it has a taste," said Sabrin O Ladongi at the foundation's location as reported by Antara, Wednesday, February 23.

Sabrin said that the Al Kautsar Foundation has no regular donors and this year it has not received any assistance from the local government. According to him, in 2020 and 2021 the foundation received assistance of Rp. 120 million and Rp. 40 million, respectively, from the Social Service of Palu City to meet the basic needs of the residents of the orphanage.

"This year we didn't get help, but we don't blame anyone because there are many orphanages and nursing homes in Palu. We believe we can survive the pandemic and still be able to meet the needs of the elderly and orphans here even though we don't have regular donors. ," he said.

Ismail Yunus came to the orphanage to provide food and vitamin assistance after news about the condition of the residents of the Al-Kautsar Foundation's orphanage went viral on social media.

"The government must be present when it happens, as experienced by the elderly and orphans at the Al-Kautsar Foundation. In the near future we will invite the provincial or city social services to discuss this problem so that it does not happen again," he said.

Meanwhile, Rizal said he was concerned when he found out that the elderly who lived in the orphanage had not eaten anything when he was at the orphanage at around 10.30 WITA.

He asked the Palu City Government to ensure that no elderly and orphaned residents of the orphanage are starving.

"We need quick steps to overcome this problem so that no more elderly and orphaned children in Palu City experience the same thing. We will look for concrete steps, including communicating to the Palu City Social Service so that this problem can be resolved," he said. .