TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), in tandem with local humanitarian agencies, sent 500 tents to refugees in Gaza, Palestine. Arifin Muh Hadi, head of PMI's central headquarters, mentioned that the total weight of the tents was 40 tons, and they were transported to the Egyptian border with Gaza using three container trucks.

Each tent, measuring 4 x 4 meters, can accommodate a family with a maximum of four to five members.

“The family tent is equipped with tool kits so that refugees can set up their tents independently or with the assistance of the team from the Egyptian Red Crescent and the Palestinian Red Crescent,” Arifin said in his official statement on Wednesday, June 19.

In June 2024, PMI plans to procure an additional 500 tents, aiming to reach a total of 1,000 units handed over to Palestinian refugees by the end of June.

According to Arifin, access to Gaza via the Rafah crossing has not yet been opened, but after coordination with the Egyptian Red Crescent’s logistics team, there is another limited route through the Karam Abu Salem crossing.

“On behalf of the Indonesian Red Cross, we express our gratitude and high appreciation to the donors and the Indonesian people for their donations and support to our Palestinian refugee brothers and sisters,” Arifin remarked.

PMI chairman Jusuf Kalla or JK believed that ensuring the safety of Palestinians is a collective responsibility. Even as the situation in Gaza Palestine continues to worsen, humanitarian aid must not stop.

“The need for family tents is a top priority, in addition to the need for food, drinking water, and clothing,” he stressed.

JK also called for the permanent opening of safe and unrestricted humanitarian access to and from the Gaza Strip, underlining the importance of opening all access points to save the lives of refugees in need of basic assistance.

At present, many refugees in Gaza are forced to sleep on the streets and in open spaces, while others sleep under the rubble of destroyed buildings.

“We must continue our efforts to provide basic needs to refugees, such as food, drink, and temporary shelter in the form of family tents in refugee camps. Therefore, PMI hopes that all doors of humanitarian access to Gaza will be permanently opened,” Jusuf Kalla concluded.

ANTARA

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