Jakarta Social Affairs Forbids Flood Refugees to Street Beg

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta’s Social Affairs Agency requested refugees of the city’s recent flood disaster to not start street begging. The agency’s head of Social Empowerment Tarmijo Damanik guaranteed that the refugees’ needs will be fulfilled.

“No need to go street begging. We have provided refugee camps, social and public facilities that have been appointed as temporary housings,” said Tarmijo on Wednesday, February 7.

However, Damanik has not dismissed the fact that most refugees are afraid that they would lose their belongings if they stay at refugee camps that are located far from their homes. But he assessed that it should not justify them to start street begging and sleeping on sidewalks.

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He claims that he discovered 40 refugees that slept in made-up tents on street corners. “They have taken refuge since last night and has received food support from the Kampung Melayu urban community (kelurahan),” said Damanik.

Damanik reminded members of the public to report to the agency if they see refugees who have yet to be helped by the social affairs agency through social media posts, CRM, or to the available 112 call center.

He reminded that the agency has established multiple temporary refugee camps (KSB) throughout areas that are prone to flooding in Jakarta.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH