Indonesia Immediately Sends More Assistance To Turkey

JAKARTA - Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said that the Indonesian government would send further assistance to help victims affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

"In the near future, two planes will be flown from Jakarta to bring the next stage of assistance, namely the Medium Urban SAR (MUSAR) and its equipment, as well as the team and medical assistance needed," said Retno in a virtual press conference reported by ANTARA, Thursday, February 9.

The Indonesian government had previously sent the first phase of humanitarian assistance in the form of food which was delivered through a humanitarian organization, the Turkish Red Crescent.

This assistance is the first logistical assistance received from a member country of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Retno said the Indonesian government also continues to coordinate with the Turkish government regarding the next stage of assistance which will be provided as needed.

Apart from that, continued the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Indonesian government will also prepare an aid plan for Syria.

Coordination meetings, said Retno, had been carried out by the Indonesian government in order to help victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

The Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Ankara previously managed to evacuate 123 Indonesian citizens from the four earthquake areas to Ankara.

One Indonesian citizen and a one-year-old child died in Kahramanmaras. While 10 other Indonesian citizens were injured.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Embassy in Damascus confirmed that so far no Indonesian citizens have been victims of the earthquake in Syria.

There are five areas in Syria that were worst affected by the earthquake, namely the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Homs, and Tartus.

"There are 116 Indonesian citizens who live in the earthquake-affected areas and until now there have been no reports of any Indonesian citizens becoming victims," said the statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Damascus.