Indonesia House Speaker Hands Over Humanitarian Aid to Turkish Parliament

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Puan Maharani handed over humanitarian assistance from Indonesia to Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Mustafa Sentop, following an earthquake that shook Turkey on Feb. 6.

The handing over ceremony was held on the sidelines of the 8th MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, Australia) Consultation Meeting held in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 9.

"On this occasion, I represent the DPR RI [Indonesian House of Representatives] and the Indonesian people to express my deep condolences for the earthquake in Turkey last February," Maharani said in a statement on Friday, March 10.

The House speaker also prayed for those that lost their lives in the earthquake and for the injured to recover soon.

"I am sure the Turkish government and people will bounce back even stronger after this," Puan said.

She said that Indonesia had provided humanitarian assistance to Turkey by sending a Search and Rescue (SAR) team and Emergency Medical Teams as well as by establishing field hospitals, including deploying 250 people and five Indonesian aircraft.

Also read: Two of Four Indonesians Who Died in Turkey Quake Will be Repatriated

"Besides, 17 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Indonesia have also assisted in post-disaster mitigation in Turkey," she said.

She affirmed that the delivery of aid from Indonesia was the largest humanitarian mission that Indonesia had deployed abroad so far.

Indonesia was honored and happy to be able to help Turkey because when Indonesia was affected by a disaster, Turkey was always the first to come forward to assist, she said.

"This includes the 2004 Tsunami in Aceh, the 2018 earthquake in Palu, and during the Covid-19 outbreak of the Delta variant in 2021," she said.

On behalf of Indonesian House of Representatives, she said, Indonesia would help Turkey in the post-earthquake handling stages, including the reconstruction phase.

Also read: Turkey Quake: 14 Indonesian Rescuers Deployed to Find Victims

"I brought the vaccine and tetanus serum as requested by the Turkish government," she said.

In addition, the assistance that came from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Ministry of Health, and other communities comprised 5,773 blankets, 200 sleeping bags, 20 foam mattresses, 100 jackets, seven platoon tents, 4,160 doses of tetanus vaccine and 300 serums, and tens of generator sets.

Puan said that the disaster that struck Turkey reminded of the need for cooperation from all countries in taking preventive steps to anticipate disasters and strengthen post-disaster mitigation measures.

"May God help the post-earthquake handling efforts in the affected areas. President Joko Widodo and I are committed to always assisting Turkey in all phases of post-disaster mitigation, including the reconstruction phase," she said.

Source: State News Antara