TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government planned to send the second batch of humanitarian aid worth Rp31.9 billion or US$2 million to Palestine next week through the Indonesian Agency for International Development (Indonesian AID).

“The aid consists of medical needs, in the form of medicines and health equipment, that are currently very much needed by the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip,” the Indonesian AID Director Tormarbulang Lumbantobing said in a press statement on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023.

Lumbantobing said that the second batch of humanitarian aid is part of Indonesia's commitment to help Palestine, as previously conveyed by President Jokowi when chairing the send-off ceremony of the first batch of the humanitarian aid at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base on Saturday, Nov. 4.

The first batch of aid weighed a total of 51.5 tons from the government, business actors, non-governmental organizations, and various other elements.

“Indonesia's support represents all elements of the nation. The government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the military and the police, and the community have collaborated well to collect various types of aid,” Lumbantobing said. “In addition, LDKPI is also preparing relief goods for the next batch.”

As previously reported, more than 9,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, 2023.

On November 2, Palestinian Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qaeda reported that the death toll had reached 9,061, including 3,760 children and 2,326 women. There were also more than 32,000 injured victims.

As quoted from Antara, the Palestinian government's media office in Gaza said that Israel has dropped more than 10,000 bombs on Gaza since its offensive began, estimating that the amount of explosives used by Israel exceeded 25,000 tons or nearly 70 tons per square kilometer.

RIRI RAHAYU | ANTARA

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