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Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal handed over government humanitarian assistance to representatives of the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay). Photo/Doc. Indonesian Embassy in Ankara
ANKARA – Phase One Humanitarian Aid from Indonesian government for disaster victims earthquake Of Turki arrived in Gaziantep. The Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey, Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, handed over the assistance to representatives of the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) on Wednesday (8/2/2023) at 13.00 local time.
The aid of one container of food arrived in Gaziantep after traveling by land for 34 hours from Istanbul. In normal conditions, it can be taken 11 hours.
“The President of the Republic of Indonesia through the Minister of Foreign Affairs has requested that as a close friend country, the Government of Indonesia immediately sends the assistance needed in the earthquake areas in Turkey. This is the first humanitarian aid in the form of logistics from an ASEAN country to arrive at the disaster site,” said Iqbal.
Read: Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey Reveals 2 Indonesian Citizens Died Due to Earthquake
“Turkey was one of the countries that was first present during the 2004 Aceh Tsunami disaster and 2018 Palu disaster. Likewise during the Covid-19 outbreak of the Delta variant in 2021, Turkey also helped with medicines and ventilators even though Indonesia did not ask for it,” added Iqbal in written statement.
According to Iqbal, the length of the trip was caused by a snowstorm along the way, several toll roads were closed due to cracks and some roads were even broken.
“The queues for trucks transporting heavy equipment and humanitarian aid, there are many outflows of people in affected areas who are looking for safe places in other provinces,” continued Iqbal.
Read: 123 People Evacuated by the Indonesian Embassy from the 5 Most Affected Regions in Turkey, 1 Indonesian Citizen Dies
Currently, under the coordination of BNPB and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Indonesia is preparing the next phase of humanitarian assistance.
The humanitarian assistance included sending the National Search and Rescue Medium Urban Search and Rescue Team, the Health Team from the Ministry of Health, the Indonesian National Armed Forces and Police as well as other assistance that is being identified as needed. The aid will be dispatched in the next few days.
(ian)
