"If there is a disaster, many children become victims and are abandoned. Thus, what is most important to consider when it comes to these children is their nutritional intake," BKKBN Head Hasto Wardoyo said.
The monitoring of children's nutritional intake is important due to the unstable rainy season. Children may become more vulnerable to disease due to the unsanitized and unstable environment, he told ANTARA here on Tuesday.
Another aspect that must be considered is the increase in the number of children with stunting due to the non-optimal provision of nutrition at refugee tents or the consumption of only instant foods such as noodles.
It would be better if donors providing food aid in the form of noodles or other instant foods change them with eggs or fish in can packaging, such as sardines, he said.
This would allow children's DHA and Omega 3 intake to be maintained, he added.
It would be even better if the donated foods are produced domestically, such as local rice, eggs, and fish, which are less expensive, he said.
"Catfish donation is also okay; it is far better so that, during disaster season, it will prevent a rise in the stunting rate," he added.
Wardoyo also urged all residents to remain cautious and alert against other future disasters. Residents are being asked to obtain information on the latest developments from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
On Monday, an earthquake measuring 5.6 in magnitude (M) rattled the southwest of Cianjur, West Java. Based on the information provided by the BMKG, the quake struck at 1:21 p.m. local time.
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Translator: Hreeloita D S, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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