TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) Indonesia announced that President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has expressed his willingness to inaugurate an Indonesian-funded hospital in Gaza Strip, Palestine.
"We have invited the President to inaugurate the hospital and he has expressed his willingness to do so,” said member of Indonesian MER-C Presidium dr. Jose Rizal Jurnalis in Jakarta on Thursday (18/6).
He also saud that MER-C Indonesian representatives on Wednesday met with the President to report that that the construction of the hospital, which was first built 6 years ago, has been completed.
The hospital, which began construction last year on 9,000 square-meters of land donated by the Palestinian Authority, is located only three kilometers from the Israeli border.
Its pentagon-shaped building was designed by an Indonesian architect. It also also serves as a token of friendship between Palestine and Indonesia and is a symbol of pride for Indonesians.
The cost of building the hospital amounts to approximately Rp30 billion (US$3.26 million). MER-C collected money through fund raising to cover the construction costs.
The two-story building is due to be fitted with 100 beds and will be staffed primarily by Palestinians with a few Indonesian volunteers.
Over the years, Indonesian volunteers have traveled to and from Palestine, including members of the MER-C. Earlier this month, 15 Indonesian volunteers from the Asia-Pacific Community for Palestine left the country for the Gaza Strip.
ANTARA
