Jakarta, IO – The US$1 million funds will come from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Aid of the same value will also be sent to Sudan.
This was decided at the ministerial-level meeting regarding assistance for the handling emergency health for Palestine and Sudan at the Coordinating Human Development and Culture Ministry (Kemenko PMK).
“We have agreed that the government of the Republic of Indonesia will provide assistance to Palestine and Sudan worth US$1 million each,” said Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy, per CNN Indonesia, Tue (26/3).
The aid will consist of medical supply. The aid for Palestine will be sent via the Egyptian government.
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi explained that the assistance is a manifestation of Indonesia’s commitment to complement the various assistance given previously. To date, said Retno, the total aid from Indonesia to Palestinians in Gaza has reached 4,400 tons.
“The Indonesian government has provided aid to Palestine both by air and most recently by sea and the source of this aid is from the government and non-governmental organizations,” added Retno.
Read: Kemenkes: Dengue Fever Deaths Hit 300 Cases Until February
Retno also said that due to the difficulty of aid distribution by land, the government is planning to air drop the aid directly to Gaza.
“The Indonesian government has been invited for talk by the Jordanian government to work together to assist Palestine by air, via air drop. We have held discussions with the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Ministry, the Defense Ministry and the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI),” she said. (bp)