Indonesia Sends Aid To Myanmar Residents Affected By Cyclone Mocha, The Value Reaches IDR 7.8 Billion

Assistance from the Indonesian government which will be handed over to the people affected by Tropical Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar, Monday (26/6/2023). (ANTARA/Asep Firmansyah)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government sent humanitarian aid to the people of Rakhine State in Myanmar. Rakhine residents were affected by Tropical Cyclone Mocha last May.

The humanitarian aid was released directly by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy together with the Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Monday 26 June.

"The delivery of this assistance was carried out at the direction of President Joko Widodo, in response to an official letter requesting assistance sent by Myanmar to Indonesia," said the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.

The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture said that assistance was given with a value of approximately 525,464 United States dollars (US) or IDR 7.8 billion.

The assistance includes Rakhine residents in Myanmar in the form of 45 tons of logistics and equipment consisting of tarpaulins, family tents, refugee tents, carpentry tools, ready-to-eat meals, and hygiene kits. Then, blankets, mattresses, and generators.

"Besides that, Indonesia has also provided Hercules aircraft carriers to bring AHA Center assistance from Subang, Malaysia, to Yangon," he said.

According to him, the provision of assistance from the people of Indonesia to the people of Myanmar is part of Indonesia's humanitarian solidarity in the region, as well as in Indonesia's capacity as Chair of ASEAN 2023.

"Previously, similar humanitarian assistance was also delivered by Indonesia in 2011 when Myanmar was hit by a flood disaster," he said.

The head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto will lead the handover of the aid directly to humanitarian representatives in Myanmar today at 14.00 WIB.

The assistance will be carried by Garuda Indonesia GA 8560 and My Indo Airlines aircraft, which according to the schedule will arrive at Yangon International Airport, Myanmar at 17.00 local time on the same day.

Previously Tropical Cyclone Mocha had devastated the building infrastructure and public facilities in most parts of Rakhine State.

Preliminary data estimates that around 1.23 million people were affected and 70 percent of Rakhine State was damaged. In addition, the rainy season has also exacerbated the situation so that nearly 90 percent of public facilities have suffered severe damage.

Tropical Cyclone Mocha has caused a humanitarian emergency situation, including the evacuation of thousands of victims to temporary shelters.