Government Allocates IDR 31.9 Billion To Help Palestine

A number of residents participated in the grand action of the Indonesian People's Alliance to Defend Palestine in the Monas area, Jakarta, Sunday (5/11/2023). (ANTARA/Rivan Awal Lingga)

JAKARTA - The government through the International Development Cooperation Fund Institute (LDKPI) or Indonesian AID is preparing a second phase of humanitarian assistance for Palestine which is expected to be sent next week. LDKPI President Director Tormarbulang Lumbantobing said that for the second phase of humanitarian assistance, it had been allocated Rp31.9 billion or the equivalent of 2 million US dollars. "Later we will send in the form of medical needs in the form of medicines and medical devices that are currently urgently needed by Palestinians, especially in the Gaza Strip", said Tormarbulang Lumbantobing in a statement, Sunday, November 5. The man called Tor Tobing said support from the international community, including from Indonesia, was urgently needed by the country due to the growing tension between Israel and Palestine. Citing data released by OCHA, in addition to more than 9,000 deaths, 22,911 residents in Gaza and 2,281 residents in the West Bank were injured and needed immediate medical assistance. Tor Tobing further explained that this second phase of humanitarian assistance is part of Indonesia's commitment to helping Palestine, as conveyed by the President when releasing yesterday's first batch of aid on November 4, 2023 at Halim Perdana Kusuma Air Base, Jakarta. As is known, Indonesia has sent 51.5 tons of first batch assistance from the government, business actors, self-help organizations, and various other elements of society. Indonesia's support is a representation of all elements of the nation. The government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the TNI and Polri, and also the community in good collaboration collects various types of aid materials, plus the assistance for the next stage which is being prepared by LDKPI. The Indonesian government itself is known to have played a lot of active roles in international development cooperation, including paying great attention to humanitarian issues and peace. Tor Tobing said that in this case the State Budget is one of the important instruments in realizing the nation's national ideals, namely participating in implementing world order based on independence, eternal peace, and social justice.