Orders TNI To Add Health Battalion, Prabowo Wants Active Military Humanitarian Operations

President Prabowo accompanied by Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin inspected the Airbus A400M aircraft ordered by the TNI at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, Monday, November 3, 2025. (ANTARAPHOTO-Galih Pradipta)

President Prabowo Subianto ordered the TNI to add health battalions to strengthen Indonesia's military capabilities in carrying out humanitarian operations, both domestically and abroad.

"I have ordered the TNI to add health battalions. Battalions, health teams, not only support disasters in national areas, but if there is a (disaster, ed.) humanity that occurs, events everywhere, we can also attend," said President Prabowo in response to reporters' questions when met at the Base Ops Air Base of the Indonesian Air Force (Lanud) Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta, Monday, confiscated by Antara.

President Prabowo gave an example when Indonesia faced an earthquake and tsunami disaster in Aceh in 2004, then an earthquake, tsunami, and liquefaction disaster in Palu, Central Sulawesi, in 2018, other countries sent their fleets and logistical assistance to help the Indonesian people.

"Many countries are helping us (when Indonesia faces a disaster, ed.). So, we are also part of the world community, we must also help countries (others) in difficult times. When Turkey had a big earthquake, we also sent two Hercules (containing logistical assistance, ed.), and we were ready to send a ship," said Prabowo.

The President continued that during the ceasefire in Gaza, Palestine, Indonesian doctors, who came from the TNI's three-dimensional health battalion, were still on duty at a hospital managed by the United Arab Emirates in Rafah, Gaza.

Not only in Rafah, the doctors from the TNI health battalion are also still on duty on the floating hospital ship that docked at El Arish Port, Egypt.

The TNI team of doctors, consisting of 10 people, entered the Gaza region since September 2024, and they served for approximately a month to be rotated with other TNI health teams in floating hospitals El Arish, Egypt.

Regarding the arrival of the latest A400M Indonesian Air Force aircraft, President Prabowo also believes that the largest Airlifter of the Indonesian Air Force can carry out more humanitarian operations.

"I think (the plane, ed.) is capable, very capable, but I think this will have more effect, or play a more role in the evacuation of the injured, who need surgery and as well, that's why we make air operations modules, air ambulances," said President Prabowo.