Indonesian Government Humanitarian Aid Arrives In Libya

The decline in the Indonesian Government's humanitarian aid for Libya in Benghazi, East Libya, Monday (2/10/2023). (Between/HO-BNPB)

JAKARTA - Head of the Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Abdul Muhari confirmed that the Indonesian Government's humanitarian assistance for handling after the Hurricane Daniel incident had arrived at Benina International Airport, Benghazi, Libya.

Abdul said the aid shipment took a flight for approximately 11 hours, and arrived at 10:52 a.m. Libya time.

"Initially this assistance was planned to be deployed in Tripoli in West Libya. However, with various aspects of consideration, the plane was then directed to Benghazi, an Eastern Libyan region," Abdul said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, October 2.

The aid with a total of 46 tons worth 13.9 billion was dispatched with a group consisting of the Main Secretary of BNPB, Rustian, Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Obon Tabroni including other delegates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health and BPKP.

The assistance includes 5 sets of refugee tents, 100 sets of family tents, 20 units of 2kVA generators, 1,000 velbeds, 500 folding cashiers, 1,500 packs of cleaning utensils, 5,000 pieces of children's clothing, 2,500 pieces of adult clothing, 2,000 pieces of underwear, 100 kit handicraft, 1,000 sheets of cloth, 1,000 body bags, 30 solar lights, 5,000 packages of rendang packaging, 5,000 packages of protein milk and 5,000 packages of ready-to-eat food.

Then for medical equipment assistance include 6 emergency medical devices, 65 packages of hygienic equipment, 39 packages of pregnant women's hygienic equipment, 42 packages of baby hygienic equipment, 60 packages of disinfectant, 15 units of disinfectant spraying equipment, 4 units of water distillers and clarity, 1 ton of breast milk MP and 1 ton of PMT for pregnant women.

Abdul said after the plane stopped perfectly, the ground handling and airport cargo crew immediately rushed to dismantle the contents of the iron bird's stomach perched on the special cargo apron. A delegation of delegates, as representatives of the Indonesian people, went down to the airport VIP room.

There representatives of the Libya Red Crescent or Libya Red Cross have been waiting, including the Indonesian Embassy, the Indonesian Consulate General and the BNPB team who first came to take care of all the requirements and ensure that the aid delivery process can go as expected. BNPB Main Secretary Rustian and Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives were warmly welcomed after landing with the aid.

"The sacred ceremony for handing over aid items was carried out shortly after the group set foot in Libya. After the handover was carried out, the Main Secretary of the BNPB signed a document with the Secretary General of Red Crescent in the Benghazi area, Libya, Omer Ali Budabous at the VIP building at Benina Airport," said Abdul.

Abdul also reported from a statement by the Secretary General of Red Crescent in the Benghazi region, Libya, representing the Libyan people, Omer Ali Budabous, that the presence of the Indonesian delegation and its assistance were very meaningful for the disaster-affected communities in Libya. With this assistance, Omer Ali thanked the Indonesian people for their concern for the Libyan people.

According to him, the storm disaster occurred in Derna, Libya, and the community felt the impact of disasters including material or non-material losses. So that the presence of assistance from the Indonesian people is quite meaningful and very helpful for the affected communities," he said.

In addition, Omer Ali also thanked the Indonesian people for the assistance, so that it could help calm the people affected by the disaster in Libya.

"Approximately three hours after the process of loading and unloading aid symbolically, the delegation entourage and the aju team immediately said goodbye to return to the country. Using the same plane, the group flew to Turkey for transit and continued their return to Indonesia the following day," said Abdul.