Photo: Liputan6.com/Abdul Karim

Around 2.8 million people have lost their jobs since the deadly COVID-19 outbreak hit the Indonesian economy.
Now not only are citizens struggling to distance themselves from being infected — they have to face the fear of hunger, especially the poor and informal workers.
On Monday (20 April), Yuli Nur Amelia, a 43-year old woman in the city of Serang in the western part of Java island, had reportedly passed away as a result of extreme hunger and psychological pressure after reportedly not eating for two days. She and her husband had lost their source of income due to the pandemic.
A day before she passed away, Kompas TV broadcasted an interview with her in which she shared her family’s struggles.
The late Mdm Yuli shared that she and her husband were both low-wage workers. She worked as an outsourced employee who was placed on unpaid leave after the corona outbreak.
Her husband worked as a scavenger collecting plastic waste. However, he is no longer able to do it, as many buyers have closed their business during the pandemic.
Because of that condition, the family could only afford drinking water and eating unripe cassava from their garden for more than a day.
“We cannot do anything but feeling sad,” she said.
The late Mrs Yuli also stated that her family had not received any aid from the government.
“Not yet, [but] I have applied [for it],” she said in the news footage.
Her video went viral on social media and local news.
Separately, the Head of Serang City Communication and Information Office Hari Pamungkas confirmed the news of her death.
“First of all, our deepest sympathy to the family. Yes, that is correct — she passed away on the way to Puskesmas Sidangdaru [a community health center] in the city of Serang,” Mr Hari told Kompas on Monday (20 April).
According to him, she was unconscious at home before being brought to the community health centre.
Additionally, Mr Hari stated that the family had been recorded as one of the beneficiaries of aid in the COVID-19 task force, but the administration had limited capability to distribute the aid.
“Our resources are limited. We need [the help from] everyone. We cannot work by ourselves. We need all society to work together and support each other. Let’s not blame each other. We all are facing this pandemic together,” said Mr Hari.
Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, Atek, a 40-year old man living in the Medan Polonia had reportedly stolen rice from a stall because he was hungry and had nothing but water.
“I stole the rice because I can’t stand the hunger. I’ve received 5 kilograms of rice [in food aid] from the government, but I have sent that to my wife and our three children, who live at my parents’ house since I lost my job,” Atek said on Sunday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.
It was reported that the residents beat him after catching him red-handed.
As of Tuesday (21 April), 7,135 Indonesians are positive with COVID-19 and 616 people have died.
The unemployment may increase between 2.9 million to 5 million people, the Head of Fiscal Policy Office of the Ministry of Finance, Febrio Nathan Kacaribu said in a teleconference on Monday (20 April).
Now, not only are Indonesians struggling to avoid the spread of COVID-19 — they are also facing the imminent prospect of hunger.

Subscribe
Notify of
1 Comment
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

Police calls for next-of-kin of Mr Yeo See Kim to come forth

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) appealed for the next-of-kin of 89-year-old Mr…

反对声浪下 马政府不签署《消除一切形式种族歧视公约》

相信是在部分穆斯林群体的反对声浪下,马来西亚政府决定不签署《消除一切形式种族歧视公约》(ICERD)。 马国首相办公室发文告证实此事,同时表明会“继续捍卫联邦宪法,即其中在建国由各族群一同订立的社会契约。” 马国政府原有意签署ICERD公约,但却遭来国内穆斯林社会、甚至部分政府代表表达反对立场,担忧签署了ICERD,联邦宪法中第153条文,有关马来人与土著的特权、伊斯兰的神圣性将受侵蚀。 为了反对政府签署上述公约,马国两大最大马来族群政党,巫统和伊斯兰党(PAS),恫言在下月举办反ICERD大集会。 伊党主席哈迪阿旺甚至形容,ICERD公约其实是“共济会的阴谋”,企图破坏马国宗教和种族和谐。 哈迪阿旺指出,美国是最鼓吹ICERD的观念,但该国已经忘记了屠杀及压迫红印地安土著的歷史。 他认为,既然马国联邦宪法已明文规定,不得歧视非穆斯林,所以马国并不需要ICERD。 包括马国,全球十四国家未签署ICERD ICERD是在反犹太主义事件和反对南非种族隔离制度情况下诞生。 联合国于1960年12月,通过谴责违反联合国宪章和世界人权宣言的种族、宗教及民族仇恨的行迳,随后在1963年11月20日的联合国大会接纳ICERD的草案。 ICERD的核心条款为第一条款,有关条款主要是种族歧视的定义为“基于种族、肤色、世系或民族或人种的任何区别、排斥、限制或优惠,其目的或效果为取消或损害政治、经济、社会、文化或公共生活任何在承认、享受或行使其他方面人权及基本自由的平等地位。 目前,全球有175国已签署上述联合国公约,马来西亚是世界上15个未签署ICERD的国家之一,与朝鲜、缅甸及汶莱齐名。…

Not about S. China Sea dispute anymore but working with China for ‘stable and inclusive region’

MINDEF announced yesterday (29 May) that China and Singapore have agreed to…

S’pore-Hong Kong air travel bubble to be further delayed due to rising COVID-19 cases in HK

Following the rising number of COVID-19 infections in Hong Kong, the Civil…