RI extends condolences, prepares aid for Pakistan
RI extends condolences, prepares aid for Pakistan
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has extended his condolences
to Pakistan over Saturday's deadly earthquake, with a medical
team prepared for a humanitarian mission to the East Asian
country.
"The president has directly expressed his condolences to his
excellency President Pervez Musharraf," foreign ministry
spokesman Marty Natalegawa said on Sunday.
He said the Indonesian government would send a Hercules C-130
aircraft with a medical team, medicine and various emergency
materials to Pakistan, where a major earthquake left around
18,000 people dead on Saturday.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the humanitarian mission would
leave for Pakistan on Tuesday.
"I think on Tuesday the government will send a medical team
who will open a field hospital. Everything is being arranged by
the coordinating ministry for people's welfare and the Indonesian
Military chief," Kalla said after closing a batik exhibition in
Jakarta.
In a show of solidarity, Pakistan deployed 300 personnel to
tsunami-wrecked Aceh in January to conduct a relief mission in
the province, where the killer waves claimed over 130,000 lives.
The Pakistani soldiers helped clear rubble from the streets and
opened a field hospital to provide medical services for tsunami
survivors.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is coordinating with
the Geneva-based International Federation of the Red Cross and
Red Crescent on the humanitarian aid it will offer to Pakistan.
PMI secretary-general Iyang Sukandar said the organization had
around 30 skilled workers who were ready to carry out a relief
mission in Pakistan. The team was ready to leave for New Orleans
following Hurricane Katrina, but the U.S. turned down the offer.
"If the medical workers are already enough, we will provide
other kinds of aid, such as food and money," Iyang said.
The quake in Pakistan provided an opportunity for Indonesia to
repay foreign countries for their assistance in the aftermath of
the Dec. 26 tsunami, Iyang said.
Regarding the fate of Indonesian nationals who live in
Pakistan, Marty said he had not yet received reports on
Indonesian casualties or injuries.
"But judging from the huge number of deaths, we have to
continuously monitor whether there are Indonesian nationals among
the victims," Marty said.
The Indonesian Embassy in Pakistan has recorded 300 Indonesian
nationals who stay in the country, mostly in Islamabad. Of the
number, 143 are students.