TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Indonesia, Osama Mohammed Al Shuaibi, has lauded Indonesia's handling of the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Palu, Central Sulawesi Province. The Saudi Arabian humanitarian team gets a complete explanation about the situation and conditions at the disaster site, Osama Mohammed Al Shuaibi said on Friday.

When the disasters hit Palu, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately held a meeting with foreign representatives in Indonesia. "During the meeting, the Indonesian government conveyed the necessities needed by the tsunami and earthquake victims in Palu and the areas in its vicinity," he said.

This information is very useful for Saudi Arabia in preparing and sending aid for the victims in Central Sulawesi, the ambassador said. According to him, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has sent the humanitarian aid team to Palu and its surrounding areas to help the victims in dealing with post-disaster situations.

"We also want to say that the first humanitarian aid team that came was from Saudi Arabia and the last humanitarian team back from Palu was also from Saudi Arabia," he said.

The total number of Saudi Arabian team members carrying out humanitarian missions in Palu is 30, in which 10 of them are from Saudi Arabia and the rest are from Indonesia. The Saudi Arabian government has distributed 370 tons of basic necessities, 5,000 units of health equipment, and 3,500 tents for the earthquake and tsunami victims in Palu, Central Sulawesi.

"This humanitarian aid is from King Salman for the victims of Palu earthquake in the form of basic necessities, medical equipment and shelter. Hopefully this assistance can ease the suffering of the victims," the ambassador said.

The humanitarian aid is from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the ambassador noted. He added that the assistance provided by the Government of Saudi Arabia had advantages because it was needed by the victims and was purchased in Indonesia in large quantities.

"This way is beneficial for markets, especially local traders. As a result, it improves the local economy," he said.

A report on October 17, 2018, stated that the death toll of a magnitude-7.4 earthquake and a subsequent tsunami that hit Central Sulawesi on September 28, 2018, reached 2,102.

The total number of injured people was 4,612, while 680 people were still missing, and 152 others remained under the debris of buildings destroyed by the natural disaster.

Some 68,451 homes were seriously damaged and 78,994 people were displaced.

ANTARA