One MER-C Volunteer Has Arrived in Indonesia After Serving in Gaza

MER-C volunteer Farid Zanzabil Al Ayudi (third from the left) when he arrived in Egypt with the evacuation team of the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday (9/12/2023). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - One of three volunteers from the humanitarian organization Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C), Farid Zanzabil Al Ayubi, returned to Indonesia on Tuesday evening after carrying out humanitarian duties in the Gaza Strip.

Farid and two other volunteers, Fikri Rofiul Haq, and Reza Aldilla Kurniawan, were involved in medical aid efforts at the Indonesian Hospital (RS) in the North Gaza Strip during the Israeli attack on the Palestinian enclave.

"Yes, it has arrived (in Indonesia)," said the Chair of the MER-C Presidium, Sarbini Abdul Murad, citing the Antara page, Wednesday, December 13.

Since the Indonesian Hospital in North Gaza could not operate due to Israeli attacks, Farid and his two colleagues decided to move to South Gaza, which was considered safer compared to North Gaza which continued to experience tension.

Farid then asked for assistance in evacuation from the Gaza Strip, while Fikri Rofiul Haq and Reza Aldilla Kurniawan chose to stay and continue their humanitarian mission in Gaza.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, in a press statement on Saturday last week stated that the Indonesian government would continue to communicate and monitor the condition of the two Indonesian citizens (WNI), considering that the situation in Gaza was still very dangerous because Israel continued to carry out attacks, even though the humanitarian pause had ended. on December 1.

Indonesia is currently aggressively trying to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, especially after the United States vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian territory.

The Indonesian government is committed to continuing to play an active role in efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East and providing support to Palestinians affected by the conflict.

The situation in Gaza remains a serious concern for Indonesia, and the government seeks to work with relevant parties to reach a just and sustainable solution.