Once again, we are still open to receiving assistance from elements of society, community organizations, including NGOs. Later, if we are lacking one plane, then we can add more
Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian government is readying a plane to transport aid from civil society organizations and NGOs to Pakistanis impacted by the recent floods and landslides.
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy stated that the government had readied one aircraft for this purpose.
“Hence, in addition to the assistance from the government that we are currently sending, there will be aid from community organizations, including NGOs. We prepare one plane to transport the aid,” Effendy noted in a press statement on the sidelines of the dispatch of humanitarian aid for Pakistan at the Air Halim Perdanakusuma Field Ops Base, here, Monday.
Effendy noted that the plane carrying aid from the community was planned to depart on October 3.
Hence, the ministry still accept aid if community organizations are looking to entrust assistance to Pakistanis until that date.
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Such forms of aid can be entrusted to the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
“Once again, we are still open to receiving assistance from elements of society, community organizations, including NGOs. Later, if we are lacking one plane, then we can add more,” Effendy said.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) earlier distributed US$1 million in humanitarian aid as well as several goods to help Pakistani residents affected by floods and landslides.
“The Indonesian government provides humanitarian assistance in the form of approximately US$1 million in cash assistance as well as goods assistance that we will send today,” Jokowi remarked at the Halim Perdana Kusuma Air Base Ops, Jakarta, Monday.
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The head of state noted that the aid will be dispatched aboard two planes in the first phase.
“The first phase will comprise two planes sending (items of) basic needs, such as tents, clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, generators, as well as medicines and medical materials,” he added.
Jokowi is optimistic that this assistance would help people in Pakistan to recover quickly and return to their activities.
In addition, the Indonesian government will provide assistance by deploying health workers to offer medical services to Pakistani citizens affected by the disaster, Jokowi remarked.
“We will also assist health workers to help Pakistani people in line with the request from the Pakistani government,” he stated.
The humanitarian aid was readied by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) based on President Jokowi’s directive. Head of BNPB Lieutenant General Suharyanto had reviewed the quality and quantity of the prepared assistance to ensure it is adequate and in accordance with the needs of victims.
Floods and landslides that struck Pakistan since the end of August 2022 have had wide-ranging impacts on the country in the form of damage to agricultural land, schools, houses, and infrastructure, as well as forced some 800 thousand people to flee.
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