"This is the third time we are cooperating with the Yogyakarta administration to distribute sacrificial meat among the poor," Ali Cetin, a MEC Foundation representative, said.
The Turkish organization had procured 102 tons of meat for distribution among the poor in 30,000 packages each weighing 3 kilograms , Ali said.
The donation actually came from Turkish people living in Australia, he said, adding that MEC Foundation would carry out the same action in Medan, North Sumatra.
"About 26,000 meat package will be distributed in Yogyakarta and the rest, 4.000 packages, in Medan," Ali said.
MEC Foundation is a social organization founded by Turkish ulema Mahmud Es`ad Cosan after whom the organization was eventually named.
Yogyakarta Vice Mayor Haryadi Suyuti led a team of local officers in handing out the meat packages to about 8,000 poor people assembled in the Mandala Krida Sports Stadium here.
"This is part of the local government`s program for alleviating poverty in Yogyakarta, although the goods we hand out today are consumptive," said Haryadi, who is also chairman of Yogyakarta`s Poverty Eradication Coordinating Team (TKPKD).
Haryadi said the free meat distribution was a complement to the Segoro Amarto program launched by Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X in 2010.
About 8.000 people from five sub-districts in Yogyakarta had flocked to Mandala Krida Sport Stadium Stadium to receive the sacrificial meat packages.
"Each of the 8,000 people have been given a coupon that entitles them to receive one package of 3 kg of meat," he said.(*)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
