This public donation shows the strength of the people's spirit of 'gotong royong' (mutual cooperation) to support our collective response to the impact of the new coronavirus outbreak
Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - The Yogyakarta city administration has received a total of Rp2.5 billion in donations from community members, community-based organizations, and companies in April to help those severely affected by the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.



"This public donation shows the strength of the people's spirit of 'gotong royong' (mutual cooperation) to support our collective response to the impact of the new coronavirus outbreak," Yogyakarta Deputy Mayor Heroe Poerwadi said here on Tuesday.



The funds donated by various sources have been well-recorded, he said, adding that the Yogyakarta-based National Alms Agency (Baznas) is among the donors and has distributed aid packages worth Rp600 million to those in need.



Community members in Wirogunan neighborhood have organized a caring-and-sharing initiative by distributing aid packages to those in need, while several members of the business community and community-based organizations in Yogyakarta have donated personal protective equipment, such as hazmat suits and face masks, the Deputy Mayor said.



The move follows calls for mutual cooperation sounded earlier by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).



In a recent statement, President Jokowi highlighted the importance of fostering the spirit of "gotong royong", or mutual cooperation, arguing that the government cannot work alone to fight the spread of coronavirus infections.



"The entire nation's participation is indispensable," President Jokowi declared in a video statement from the Bogor Presidential Palace recently.



"The caring-and-sharing movement must be made public. This is not aimed at showing off, but at keeping hope alive, and inspiring others to do the same good deeds," he pointed out.



The coronavirus disease, which initially struck the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019, has since spread to at least 202 countries and territories, including Indonesia, with a massive spurt in death toll.



The Indonesian Government officially announced the country's first confirmed cases on March 2 this year. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has weakened the purchasing power of scores of Indonesian families, particularly those who have lost their jobs. (INE)

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EDITED BY INE





Translator: Eka AR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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