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.