Foreign Minister Says This Year RI Sends Aid To Gaza 3 Times From 2023

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at a press conference

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister (Menlu) Retno Marsudi said the Indonesian government would again send humanitarian aid to Gaza, Palestine, this year with a proportion of three times more than last year.

Retno said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would cooperate with the largest UN institution in Gaza, namely The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the distribution process of the aid.

"This year, we will triple our voluntary contribution to UNRWA which means that if we donate to UNRWA, the distribution will be directly given to Palestinian refugees," said Retno at a press conference at the Media Center Indonesia Maju, Central Jakarta, Thursday, January 4.

Retno said she had met with the head of UNRWA. During the meeting, Indonesia emphasized that it would contribute voluntarily to UNRWA for humanitarian purposes for Palestine.

This visit has been carried out in a marathon since the conflict escalated in Gaza on October 7, 2023. From the results of coordination with UNRWA, Retno said the humanitarian condition of the Gaza refugees was getting worse.

For example, currently one toilet is even intended for 700 people. Therefore, the priority of sending aid sought by Indonesia will be adjusted to the current needs of the Gaza people.

Humanitarian aid will not stop here. We are seeing these aids from time to time. The assistance we provide will be adjusted to the needs in the field," said Retno.

For information, Indonesia has twice sent humanitarian assistance to Palestine. The first aid was sent on November 4, 2023 in the form of medicines, medical equipment, blankets, tents, and other logistical goods needed by refugees as much as 51.8 tons from various parties.

Then the second phase of assistance was sent on November 20, 2023, in the form of medicines, hospital equipment, to other necessities weighing 21 tons. This second phase of assistance worth IDR 31.9 billion comes from the government, companies, humanitarian agencies, and the community.

In addition to sending aid, Indonesia has sent a hospital ship. However, he said, hospital ship entry to the Gaza region needed approval from local authorities to be able to dock.

The information I received, the floating hospital is being discussed, once again, this trip requires approval from several authorities. However, the idea is not only to provide health services but also to bring other assistance that will be adjusted to the existing request," he said.