Jakarta. The National Nutrition Agency or BGN recently distributed free nutritious meal packages to the flood victims in the North Sumatran regency of South Tapanuli.

According to a press release, the Aek Pining and Tapsel Sipirok Kilang Papan public kitchens had prepared the meals. These two units delivered 1,591 food packages to flood victims in Batu Horing, Batu Hua, and Sipirok on Wednesday. BGN's spokesperson Khairul Hidayati said that the agency had distributed meals to disaster victims in the past.

"We have delivered similar assistance to the flood victims in Bekasi and Bali. The president has instructed the public kitchens to also act as emergency kitchens to supply food for disaster victims," Hida was quoted as saying in a press statement.

The agency also said that the distribution of the food would depend on the situation and conditions of the said region. South Tapanuli's regional coordinator Wan Apriyanti admitted that the agency could only make one delivery on Wednesday, citing difficulties in obtaining the ingredients. "The flood has also blocked some access points," Wan said. 

The distributed packages included ready-to-eat meals. The Aaek Pining food distribution center had prepared fried vermicelli, fried eggs, fried peanuts, sautéed carrots and cabbage, and oranges.

The menu served by Tapsel Sipirok Kilang Papan kitchen includes white rice, crispy tilapia fillets, braised tofu, sautéed vegetables (sweet corn, carrots, as well as green beans), and grapes.

"We express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to our public kitchen colleagues and volunteers in the regions. Thanks to their persistence in navigating floodwaters and difficult access, the aid packages were delivered to the victims safely," Hida said.