The Indonesian government is planning to send the third batch of humanitarian assistance for Turkey and Syria on February 20, 2023, according to Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy.
The first two batches were dispatched to the two countries on Saturday (February 11) and Monday (February 13), he noted.
“And next, we will send another logistics assistance that, God Willing, will depart next February 20,” Effendy said at the Presidential Palace Complex here on Tuesday.
He made his remarks after he and National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) head Suharyanto met President Joko Widodo to provide updates on the February 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria and Indonesia’s humanitarian assistance for the two countries.
During the meeting, the coordinating minister informed Widodo that the earthquake caused 31,642 casualties in Turkey and 4,574 casualties in Syria, while at least 200 thousand people were evacuated.
He said that two Indonesian nationals were killed in the earthquake, and the earthquake shelter at the Indonesian embassy in Ankara, Turkey, was accommodating 123 people evacuated from various areas.
Meanwhile, Indonesia sent 62 personnel and supporting equipment last Saturday, followed by another 131 personnel on Monday, to help with disaster mitigation, search and rescue operations, and provision of first aid, the minister added.
Indonesia will heed the requests made by the Turkish and Syrian authorities in selecting articles for the third aid batch, he said.
“We will send four cargo planes carrying food and necessary equipment, such as blankets. All of them will be as requested by the Turkish and Syrian authorities,” Effendy informed.
The coordinating minister added that President Widodo has agreed that the next humanitarian aid batch will be in the form of monetary assistance.
While sending off the first batch of assistance on Saturday, Effendy said that Indonesia planned to disburse US$1 million each for Turkey and Syria as earthquake assistance.
Source: Antara News