Indonesia Sends Humanitarian Aid, Prabowo Affirms Ready To Help Vanuatu Post-Employment

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Pratikno/ANTARA

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Pratikno said President Prabowo Subianto was concerned and stated that the Indonesian government was ready to provide the best to ease the burden on people affected by the earthquake in Vanuatu.

This statement was made by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno when directly releasing the departure of aid transport aircraft for handling the impact of the Vanuatu earthquake at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, Friday, December 27.

According to Pratikno, in addition to logistical assistance, the President has also prepared so that the Indonesian government sends a team of doctors to the best paramedics to help deal with earthquake victims in friendly countries.

This follows the emergency status of the Pacific island nation's earthquake, Vanuatu, on Tuesday (17/12) which reportedly resulted in 80,000 people being affected, including 14,104 children and 769 people with disabilities. A total of 18 people died, 200 were injured, and 947 people fled to churches and houses. residents in Manples, Britano, Kaweriki, and Kona Vanuatu.

The Ministry of Health facilitates as many as 15 doctors - paramedics consisting of specialist doctors (experts, orthopedics, internal diseases, anestheties, and medical emergencies), general practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, and emergency medical logistics experts.

"The president requested that the medical team dispatched can serve as well as possible, communicate and work well with local authorities for the people of Vanuatu. They are our friendly country," said Pratikno conveying a message from President Prabowo Subianto as reported by ANTARA.

The 15 doctors and paramedics departed together with the delivery of logistical assistance in the form of basic necessities and evacuation needs from the Government of Indonesia.

The Indonesian government through the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) sent dozens of types of aid such as medicines, medical equipment, antibacterials and food to evacuation logistics which had a total weight of 50.5 tons and worth Rp. 11,753,262,314 or the equivalent of US$ 726,904.

The assistance was transported using two aircraft: Garuda Indonesia with PK-GFM number and BBN Airline PK-BBN from Base Ops SUMA 1 Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base Jakarta, Friday at 17:00 WIB.

The plane was dispatched by route from Jakarta directly to Jayapura to then arrive at Port Villa City, Vanuatu, then scheduled to return to Jakarta, on Saturday (28/12) via transit from Fiji International Airport.