The global pandemic has left millions of Indonesians struggling to make ends meet. Now the authorities are rolling out "rice ATMs" in a bid to ensure greater access for those in need to the essential staple.
This month, Linda Syafri, a 28-year-old pregnant woman, was among the many people who lined up in masks at a military base in Depok, on the outskirts of Jakarta, for a 1.5-kilogram ration of rice.
"I was laid off by my company last week and my husband was laid off too without severance pay," Syafri said. "Although it (the rice subsidy) is not that much, it is very helpful in this situation."
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