Evacuation Of Indonesian Citizens, Indonesian Embassy In Ankara Departures 11 Vehicles Including One Container For Transportation Of Humanitarian Assistance

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Teuku Faizasah (central) when giving information regarding the earthquake in Turkey (Source: Kemlu RI/Abi)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey Lalu Muhamad Iqbal led the Indonesian Embassy team Ankara to areas in Turkey affected by the earthquake, including bringing humanitarian assistance.

"I am with the Indonesian Embassy team and 11 vehicles moving to Gaziantep," said the last Ambassador who was on his way, during a virtual press statement held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tuesday, February 7.

Ambassador Lalu explained that the Indonesian Embassy team Ankara departed on February 7 in the morning for Gaziantep (6 hours from Ankara) to hand over Phase I Humanitarian Assistance from the Indonesian government in the form of 1 container of foodstuffs. The humanitarian aid will be handed over to the Turkish Crescent (Kizilay).

"From Gaziantep, the team will be divided into 4 groups to evacuate Indonesian citizens in Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras (2 hours from Gaziantep), Hatay (4 hours from Gaziantep) and Diyarbakir (4 hours from Gaziantep). Indonesian citizens will be evacuated to Ankara to be temporarily accommodated and hospitalized in Ankara for those who need treatment," he explained in a separate statement.

He explained that the Indonesian Embassy had received requests for evacuation from 104 Indonesian citizens consisting of 40 people in Gaziantep, 40 Kahramanmaras, 14 Diyarbakir, 9 Hatay and 1 in Adana.

"In general, the residence or dormitory is destroyed, while the shelter provided by the local authorities is full. The temperature ranges from 4 degrees to -7 degrees Celsius at the earthquake site with a snowstorm," he explained.

He added that until now a mother and two children in Antakya and two workers in Diyarbakir have not been able to be contacted. The Indonesian Embassy in Ankara continues to make efforts through local authorities, Indonesian community nodes and the local Indonesian citizen protection task force.

It is known that container trucks carrying humanitarian aid carry about 300 blankets, around 2,000 instant noodle cup foods, along with portable and gas stoves.

"We are not sure how long the team will be on the field. Maybe it will take time in Diyarbakir. Earlier, it was informed that there were three lanes that could not be used, so we had to use alternative routes," he said.