East Java Residents Hope for Food Aid During Emergency PPKM

The Indonesian government implemented Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) starting in early July 2021, which was later extended until September 20, 2021. East Java is one of the provinces affected by this policy. Based on a survey by the East Java Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), 47.74% of respondents hoped for food aid sufficient for their family's needs to avoid having to leave their homes.

Restricted public activities impacted income and the fulfillment of basic needs. Besides food aid, 39.36% of respondents hoped for medicine and healthcare services during the Emergency PPKM.

Furthermore, 38.31% of respondents hoped for cash assistance. Activities at home required online access, so 30.85% of respondents hoped for internet assistance.

Looking at the main type of activity, food aid was the most desired assistance among almost all respondents, except for those still in school and the unemployed. School-aged respondents most desired internet assistance, while unemployed respondents most desired cash assistance.

The survey was conducted in East Java from July 13 to 20, 2021, using a non-probability sampling method distributed through a chain referral system.