Russia decides to give hospital to Indonesia<\/p>\n
Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Russia will donate its mobile hospital in Aceh to Indonesia, the
\ncountry that suffered the most in the Dec. 26 tsunami disaster,
\nto help relieve the suffering of victims, Russian Ambassador to
\nIndonesia Mikhail M. Bely said on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"The Russian government has decided to give the hospital as a
\ngift to Indonesia after the departure of our doctors back to
\nRussia,\" Ambassador Bely said during a press conference in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The hospital, located in Mata'ie, Aceh, has its own diesel-
\npowered generators, a water purifying system, freezing chambers,
\n19 off-road motor vehicles, a mobile field laboratory, a mobile
\nX-ray room and even a bakery. The hospital can operate equally
\nwell in an equatorial climate and at a temperature of 30 degrees
\nbelow zero.<\/p>\n
The hospital, which is currently operated by 150 doctors and
\nmedical staff, is capable of treating up to 400 people every day,
\nsaid the Ambassador.<\/p>\n
\"At the moment, the hospital has been treating between 300 and
\n400 patients a day. It has already vaccinated more than 1,060,\"
\nBely said at the press conference, which was also attended by
\nMaj. Vladislav Shafalinav, the deputy commander of the Russian
\nmilitary mission in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Asked when the Russian team would leave Aceh, Bely said that
\nthis had not been decided yet.<\/p>\n
\"The situation on the ground is already improving, but we
\nhaven't set a date for our departure. We will stay as long as our
\nassistance and help is needed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Russian government has sent hundreds of tons of aid,
\nincluding food, water desalination equipment, tents, folding
\nbeds, and medicine, to Medan where it was handed over to the
\nIndonesian authorities for distribution in Aceh and North Sumatra
\nprovinces.<\/p>\n
Moscow has also donated 20,000 tons of wheat to the Indonesian
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
\"We are now discussing with the Indonesian government where
\nwould be the right place to deliver it as it is quite doubtful
\nthat Banda Aceh has facilities for unloading such a large
\nquantity of wheat,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The wheat, after grinding into flour, will be used to make
\nnoodles or bread to feed to Acehnese people, he said.<\/p>\n
Russia has pledged $22 million in humanitarian aid to the
\ndevastated areas in Aceh and North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The Russian Foreign Ministry also plans to donate $10 million
\nto UN relief organizations to support the global relief during
\nthe six months of 2005.<\/p>\n
\"I swear, neither the former Soviet Union nor Russia has ever
\nparticipated on such a massive scale in an international relief
\noperation before,\" the ambassador added.<\/p>\n
A group of nine Russian seismologists are in Aceh to collect
\nscientific data on the tsunami. Their research will contribute to
\nthe work of the natural disaster early warning system to be
\nestablished under the auspices of UNESCO, said the ambassador.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/russia-decides-to-give-hospital-to-indonesia-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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