Receiving The Highest Award From President Erdogan For Humanitarian Aid, Ambassador Iqbal: Turkey Is Always Present When Indonesia Needs It

President Erdogan handed over the award to Indonesia to Brigadier General Lukmansyah. (Source: Indonesian Embassy in Ankara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government received an award from the Turkish government for its humanitarian mission and assistance, after a great earthquake that rocked southern Turkey, and was felt in Syria and a number of other countries.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan handed over this award in person at the official "The State Superior Sacrificie Medal Award Ceremony" event which was attended by 90 foreign Representatives in Turkey and related stakeholders on April 24-25.

The "Order of Superior Sacrificie Medal" award given to the Government of Indonesia is the highest award given by the Turkish Government for rescue services during a natural disaster, said the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara in a statement on Thursday, April 27.

Present representing the Indonesian Government on this occasion were the Special Staff of the BNPB/Head of Operations for Indonesian Humanitarian Missions in Turkey Brigadier General Lukmansyah, as well as the KUAI/Minister Couadhi KBRI Ankara Yudhi Ardian representing the Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey Lalu Muhamad Iqbal.

"On behalf of the Indonesian government, we would like to express our highest gratitude for the awarding of an award medal from the Turkish Government," said Brigadier General Lukmansyah.

The award award ceremony was given to countries that have assisted in SAR and humanitarian missions after the earthquake in Kahramanmaras and Hatay on February 6, 2023, which was held at the Bestepe National Congress and Culture Center, Ankara.

In his speech, President Erdogan expressed his appreciation to the SAR team and foreign humanitarian missions that have helped after the earthquake in Turkey. He also appreciated the sincerity of the SAR team and foreign humanitarian missions that have sacrificed and continue to support Turkey in difficult times after the earthquake.

"The Turkish nation is one of the first to be present when Indonesia needs it, from the times before independence, the Aceh tsunami, the Palu earthquake to the Delta variant of the COVID-19 outbreak. It is a joy for Indonesia to be present when Turkey needs the help of its siblings after the earthquake last February," said Ambassador Iqbal.

It is known that the Indonesian government has sent a SAR team and an emergency medical team, established field hospitals, sent humanitarian logistical assistance including 59 containers of foodstuffs and the deployment of emergency logistics transportation of the Air Force's Hercules C-130 for more than a month.

The Indonesian Embassy in Ankara added that humanitarian missions in Turkey are the largest humanitarian missions that Indonesia has carried out in history.