Suherdjoko, Semarang – The Central Java administration is set to distribute sembako (staple food packages) to its residents living in Greater Jakarta, as the COVID-19 crisis has seen a large number of people lose their jobs.
Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo said the aid would be delivered to around 26,000 recipients. Initially, the number of recipients was estimated at 60,000, but it turned out that many of them had left the capital and gone back home because of the crisis.
"Hopefully, [the sembako] can be distributed sometime next week," Ganjar said in Semarang, Central Java's capital, on Sunday.
He added that several institutions and communities had also sent out aid to the migrants, including the Batang regency administration and alumni from state high school SMA 1 Tegal.
The governor called on the prospective donors to coordinate with the Central Java administration prior to distributing aid, "so that we know which individual has received support and which has not."
Ganjar planned to prioritize those who had yet to receive any aid.
While both the government and regional administrations have started to give out aid to those hardest hit by the economic downturn in Greater Jakarta, inconsistent data and layers of red tape have hindered distribution. (vny)