Chrestella Tan – Jakarta's government will attempt to clear the streets in the evenings to provide a more peaceful environment during Ramadan prayers, a spokesman said.

Together with Social Department and Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), the administration plans to step up patrols cracking down on disturbances by buskers, beggars, and street kids after evening prayers throughout the month of fasting.

"We'll be working and taking action, from the tiniest group to the biggest ones," administration spokesman Cucu Ahmad Kurniawan said. "None of them will be overlooked."

The Satpol PP spokesman, Darwis, said the operation was aimed at creating an atmosphere in which Jakartans can pray undisturbed. "We know that each year, many beggars come bothering people during prayers," Darwis said. "Operations in previous years have decreased their numbers. We'd like to decrease them more."

The patrols began in mid-July and will go on until Idul Fitri, with the biggest operation happening from Aug. 15 to 20. He added that the patrols would cover all parts of Jakarta.

In addition to clearing the streets of beggars and children, Jakarta's government will maintain a 24-hour emergency health clinic at the hospital and clinic during the fasting month.

Though a new ruling allows civil servants to work for only six hours a day during Ramadan, the Jakarta government emphasized that all clinics and urban wards will still admit people with emergency health concerns.

"People don't need to worry about access to health services," said Dien Emawati, head of the city's health agency. "We will try to serve people as best as we can."

Normally, civil servants work from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. During Ramadan, which starts today, city officials will work from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break. There is a two-hour lunch break for Friday prayers.