Post by : Shakul

Jakarta, Indonesia — Indonesia’s National Alms Agency (Badan Amil Zakat Nasional or Baznas) delivered 400 iftar meal packages to underprivileged residents of Gasong Village, a community widely known as a settlement for scavengers in Tebet, South Jakarta. The distribution took place on Feb. 24, 2026, as part of ongoing Ramadan welfare efforts.

Each package contained ready‑to‑eat meals and Ramadan snacks to help residents break their fast with proper food, according to Baznas’ Distribution and Utilization Division head Saidah Sakwan. She explained that the initiative is part of Baznas’ annual agenda to ease the economic burden on disadvantaged populations during the fasting month.

Sakwan noted that while Baznas traditionally supports rural communities, urban pockets of severe economic disparity also require targeted intervention. Gasong Village was prioritized due to its “alarming social and economic conditions,” including limited access to clean water, proper sanitation, and habitable housing — factors that intensify hardship for families who make a living through scavenging.

The Ramadan food program, which runs annually across multiple regions in Indonesia, aims to reach both rural and urban populations struggling with poverty, disaster risks, and high living costs. Baznas channels zakat, infak, and sadaqah collected from donors into welfare programs designed to deliver direct benefits to those in need.

Residents at Gasong Village expressed gratitude for the assistance. One scavenger, Cipto (76), said the meals were “proof of the government’s care for the poor” and shared hope for continued support throughout Ramadan. Cipto, who has lived in the village for over 30 years with his family, welcomed the meal distribution as a meaningful gesture of care.

Baznas’ Ramadan programs this year also include other food aid initiatives in Jakarta, such as distributing additional meal packages to orphanages and places of worship, highlighting the agency’s broader commitment to social welfare during the Islamic holy month.

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