No Security Security, RI Only Sends Logistics For Assistance Only For Victims Of Syrian Earthquakes

Photo via Antara

Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto confirmed that Indonesia did not send SAR personnel assistance to assist in the search for earthquake victims in Syria for security reasons.

This was conveyed by Suharyanto to reporters shortly before leaving to deliver aid to Turkey and Syria, at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, East Jakarta, Tuesday, February 21.

"Syria because the earthquake area was from the Syrian government itself does not guarantee maximum security, it was decided there not to send personnel. Only (sending) equipment, goods," said Suharyanto as quoted by Antara.

The aid for goods sent to Syria is the same as the assistance sent to Turkey. Starting from warm blankets, refugee tents, family tents, ready-to-eat food packages, sleeping bags, generators, hydrogen kits, sweaters or children's warm clothes, adult warm clothes, mattresses, children's jackets, adult jackets, and cloth.

"It weighs about 140 tonnes more. So it is divided into two, 78 tonnes to the rest of Turkey to Syria," he explained.

For Turkey itself, Indonesia also sent SAR personnel and health workers, including those who were already on duty, namely a 50-person SAR medium team with three sniffer dogs.

According to Suharyanto, the impact of the earthquake in Turkey was greater than that of Syria. In Turkey the number of victims who died almost touched 40,000 people while in Syria 6,000 people.

"So that Turkey is a priority, we (the Indonesian government) send the SAR team as well as the health team," he explained.

It is planned that Suharyanto's departure with the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy to Turkey, will also pick up 85 Indonesian citizens who are in Turkey, as well as repatriate the bodies of two Indonesian citizens who have been found.