Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini has urged local governments to expedite the collection of data on children who have lost their parents due to COVID-19.

“It aims to keep their spirits up as they will receive social assistance so they can go to school,” she said at a press conference at the National Police Education and Training Center Field, here on Tuesday.

She informed that there were approximately 24 thousand children who have lost their parents due to COVID-19. Still, the data needs further verification, she added.

Data collection would aid the allocation of a budget to assist children as it is important to raise the spirit of children so they can continue living, she remarked.

“I have found out that especially the children who are still in school experience great shock as they are contemplating on whether they still can pursue their education or not after losing their parents,” she informed.

Thus, she added, therapy and psychosocial support services are needed to ease their shock due to the loss of their parents.

Rismaharini said she is concerned that if children go into shock for too long, it would be difficult to optimize their capacities and abilities.

Hence, she said she is grateful for the psychosocial services provided by National Police personnel across Indonesia for children, adolescents, and people with disabilities affected by COVID-19.

“The psychosocial service is important. Thus, I thank all police officers for the response,” she remarked.

The National Police along with related ministries and institutions are providing such support to 2,138 children and 195 people with disabilities, she informed.

In addition, the institution is also providing assistance to 48 foster parents, she added.

Source: Antara News