Hanoi, Sept. 22 -- Hanoi (VNA) - Health-focused non-governmental organisations on September 22 urged the Indonesian government to temporarily halt the free school meals programme, days after 500 children became sick in the biggest mass food poisoning outbreak so far.

The 10 billion USD programme has reached more than 20 million recipients since its January launch, and is rapidly being scaled up in a bid to reach 83 million women and children by year end. But the programme has faced a number of setbacks in supplies and preparation.

Food poisoning from the free meals has affected 6,452 children nationwide, which was "a systemic failure," Network for Education Watch (JPPI) head Ubaid Matraji told a parliamentary committee, saying the gover...