RI Flys 50.5 Tons Of Aid And 15 Cyclists To Vanuatu Affected By The M 7.3 Earthquake

JAKARTA - The Government of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) sent assistance to deal with the impact of the earthquake that hit a number of areas in Vanuatu. Delivery uses two aircraft units.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Pratikno, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono are scheduled to directly release the departure of the aid transport plane at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, Friday, December 27, at 17.00 WIB.

Observations at the SUMA 1 Base Ops Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base show that the authorities packaged at least two containers of aid containing medicines, medical equipment, antibacterials and food to evacuation logistics which were affixed with humanitarian assistance stickers from the Indonesian Government for Vanuatu into the trunk of Garuda Indonesia aircraft numbered PK-GFM and BBN Airline Indonesia PK-BBN.

Data from BNPB noted that the dozens of types of assistance from Indonesia had a weight of 50.5 tons with a value of Rp11,753,262,314 or the equivalent of 726,904 US dollars.

In addition to logistical assistance, the Indonesian government has also dispatched 15 paramedics consisting of five specialist doctors (experts, orthopedics, internal diseases, anestheties, and medical emergencies), three general practitioners, five nurses, one pharmacist and one logistics expert.

The plane will be dispatched by route from Jakarta directly to Jayapura to then arrive at Port Villa City, Vanuatu, then return to Jakarta via transit from Fiji International Airport.

An earthquake hit Vanuatu, located in the Pacific Islands on Tuesday, December 17. A total of 80,000 people were affected, including 14,104 children and 769 people with disabilities.

Meanwhile, 18 people were reported dead, 200 injured, and 947 people fled to churches and houses of residents in Manples, Britano, Kaweriki, and Kona. The country's emergency status is in effect from 17 to 24 December 2024.

The Indonesian government hopes that the provision of this assistance can ease the burden on the people of Vanuatu as well as strengthen bilateral relations in the Pacific region. This was conveyed by the Head of BNPB Suharyanto in a ministerial-level coordination meeting in Jakarta, Monday, December 23.