Returned by the Mayor of Medan, Disaster Aid from the UAE Dispersed Through Muhammadiyah

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian said the assistance in the form of 30 tons for disaster victims received by the Medan City Government (Pemkot) was not an official assistance from the government of the United Arab Emirates but from the United Arab Emirates Crescent organization.

"This crescent moon of the United Arab Emirates is like PMI in the United Arab Emirates. So it's a non-government organization," said Tito at a press conference at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, East Jakarta, Friday, December 19, reported by ANTARA.

Tito said that initially the Medan City Government had received the rice aid. However, they thought that the aid came directly from the government of the United Arab Emirates so that the City Government could not take steps to use the aid.

Later, the city government only knew that the aid came from a non-governmental organization.

"It is thought by the Mayor (assistance) is from the government or Government to Government which does not yet have a mechanism," said Tito.

Tito continued, the rice has been transferred to the Muhammadiyah Medical Center in Medan.

Later, the Muhammadiyah party will distribute the aid to the disaster site.

"This rice is now in the hands of Muhammadiyah and later Muhammadiyah will distribute it to the community," explained Tito.