BGN Prepares Free Nutritious Meal Distribution Scheme for Conflict-Prone Areas
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is opening up the possibility of distributing free nutritious meals (MBG) to reach conflict-prone areas. BGN Head Sudaryono stated that a special mechanism is currently being prepared to ensure children in these regions still gain access to the nutritional fulfilment programme.
Sudaryono said that a number of trials or pilot projects have been carried out in cooperation with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri), utilising public facilities, including churches, as locations for distributing nutritious food.
“For example, MBG or nutritious meals for children in conflict-prone areas. We are also currently thinking about the mechanism for this,” Sudaryono said during a press conference at the BGN Office in Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, 29 July 2026.
He stated that this distribution aims to ensure all Indonesian children, including those living in conflict zones and remote areas, receive their right to nutritional fulfilment. “There have been several pilot projects we have carried out in cooperation with the TNI and Polri using church facilities and others, because all Indonesian children, especially those in conflict-prone and remote areas, must also get access to improved nutrition,” he said.
In addition to preparing a scheme for conflict areas, Sudaryono said the BGN will strengthen the formulation of MBG menus through cooperation with the Ministry of Health. Before 5 August, the BGN plans to gather input from nutritionists, paediatricians, clinical nutrition specialists, and other experts.
According to him, this input is necessary to formulate menus, nutritional content, and strategies for handling areas with high stunting prevalence. “We want to hear more input from nutrition experts regarding stunting, menus, nutritional content, including the most appropriate methods for areas with very high stunting rates,” he said.
When asked about the minimal operation of MBG kitchens in Papua, which has been widely discussed on social media, Sudaryono acknowledged that distribution services in Papua and other eastern Indonesian regions remain a concern. He mentioned that similar conditions also occur in several other areas, such as East Nusa Tenggara and Maluku. “Papua, then NTT, Maluku, all have their own maps. We will improve those that are important and urgent to fix,” he said.