Second Batch Aid for Gaza to be Sent 3 Weeks Later, Says Health Minister
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5 November 2023 11:52 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The second batch of Indonesian humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza, worth approximately US$2 billion, will be sent in the next three weeks, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated in Jakarta on Saturday, November 4, 2023.
"There will be a second batch (of aid), comprising medical equipment for hospitals, worth around US$2 billion," he remarked after accompanying President Joko Widodo during the sending off ceremony of the first batch of humanitarian aid at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Health participated in the distribution of the first batch of the aid by donating medical equipment, medicines, and water purifiers, weighing seven tons in total.
The ministry's donation is being delivered along with other forms of aid from the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) as well as Indonesian people that submitted their donation through various channels, such as the National Alms Agency (Baznas), Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), Dompet Dhuafa, and kitabisa.com.
"We donated as much as seven tons of aid, which includes water purifiers that do not require electricity to operate. This is because the people in Gaza are experiencing shortages in water and have been cut off from electricity supply," Sadikin noted.
In addition to water purifiers, the Health Ministry donated medicines and medical consumables, such as alcohol and gauze, at the request of health workers in the besieged Gaza Strip, he remarked.
President Joko Widodo personally chaired the sending off ceremony of the first batch of the Indonesian humanitarian aid at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base.
"This is a manifestation of Indonesian solidarity. The nation cares about humanity because the humanitarian tragedy happening in Gaza is unacceptable and must be ended immediately," he stated.
Apart from Minister Sadikin, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto also accompanied the president during the activity.
Commander of the TNI Admiral Yudo Margono, Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall Fadjar Prasetyo, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali, and Army Chief of Staff General Agus Subiyanto were also in attendance.]
ANTARA
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