The Social Welfare Department has distributed 388,897 food baskets nationwide since March 18 until yesterday, benefitting 1.56 million people nationwide, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun.

Of the total, she said 335,600 were distributed throughout the Movement Control Order (MCO), 42,059 during Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), while another 11,238 food baskets were distributed to residents in areas placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).

"The distribution of food baskets will continue," she said following the announcement by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Sunday that the CMCO was extended until June 9.

Speaking at a press conference here today regarding the delivery of food baskets, Rina said the average demand in each district was between 50 and 100 food baskets depending on the size of the area or the number of poor people there.

"We have received requests from various parties among them community leaders, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and caring schools that have data about their students coming from poor and needy families," she said.

-- BERNAMA