The Impact of COVID-19 to The Poor People Socioeconomic Condition in Indonesia

They also can`t supply food for about 14 days because they don`t have enough money. It`s different with the condition in China, in which they get food supply from the government during quarantine. The high oppressed government also has strict rule to prevent the people from get outside. It is different with Indonesia condition which is the quarantine is not doing at the same time. Can our government provide food during 14 days for 267 million people in Indonesia?

Moreover, the early detection rate of coronavirus is taken by test and this test is rationing only 140 people each day and massive tests are still not done yet, it means their opportunity to be tested especially for the people is lower. As the government rationing the number of people tested into 140 in Unair[4] hospital and only provide up to 9 PM rather than 24 hours. Of course, it makes the access of the poor people to the health provision is getting difficult. 

Could you imagine how the homeless people and child street can survive in a time like this? When they don`t have shelter or enough food for 14 days, where they should go and how they feed themselves? When some people hoarding health safety and protection equipment like hand sanitizer and masks, scarcity makes the price is goes up more than 4 times. 

Hand sanitizer 60 ml usually costs 17.000 IDR but not it costs up to 78.000 IDR. The masks also rare and the usual price in each box is 45.000 IDR, now it costs up to 325.000 IDR[5].  Some places that sell masks also ratioing to sell only 2 masks for each person[6]. The poor people will be difficult to get health safety equipment to protect themselves from the virus transmission. 

In the early pandemic period, there are 17 provinces[7] with confirmed cases, including densely populated area, high poverty rate, or high inequality ratio such as DKI Jakarta, West Java, Banten, East Java and DI Yogyakarta. Currently the highest number of Corona patients is in DKI Jakarta, West Java, Banten, and East Java. 

There is also strong correlation between poverty and the number of infected people. Most poor people live in slump area that densely populated, so it increases the speed of contagion and the risk of community transmission is higher. Based on data, the slump area in Indonesia expanded into two times. The number of urban slump household in Jakarta is 11.02% and West Java is 11,81% which is above national average 8.3%.

 The number of urban slump household in Banten also high (7,16%), although lower than national average (BPS, 2016). In Java province, DI Yogyakarta (11,7%), Central Java (10,8%), and East Java (10,37%) become the province with highest poverty rate (BPS, March 2019). DI Yogyakarta and West Java also become province with first and third highest inequality (BPS, March 2019). Although need further research, poverty is indeed one of the factors that worsen the virus transmission and outbreaks. If we don`t give concern more to the poor people in this crisis time like this, they will be live the very vulnerable and harmful condition. 

Stay healthy, stay safe for all people in Indonesia. #UniteAgainstCOVID-19

 

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