TIMES JAZIRAH, JAKARTA – The Indonesian government has dispatched medical equipment and medications to Palestine and Sudan with a total value of Rp30 billion for both countries.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated that the humanitarian aid was sent with two aircraft to assist in the internal conflicts in Sudan and to aid Palestinian refugees in Egypt.

"For Palestine, we have provided 30 types of medical equipment for medical procedures such as surgeries, blood banks, and ambulance supplies," said Foreign Minister Retno after accompanying President Joko Widodo in sending off the aid at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, on Wednesday.

In addition to the aid for Palestine sent through Egypt, the Indonesian government also sent 230 types of medications to handle emergency patients, medical oncology, chronic diseases, blood bank supply equipment, and other medical supplies.

This humanitarian aid is scheduled to depart on Thursday (4/4) using two Garuda Indonesia aircraft, each arriving in Sudan and Cairo. The aid will be directly received by the respective health ministers.

According to Retno, the provision of medical equipment and medications to Sudan and Egypt is necessary as it has been adjusted to the needs on the ground.

"We always provide aid according to the requests to ensure it matches the needs on the ground because often aid received does not match the actual needs," said the Foreign Minister.

The release of this humanitarian aid was carried out by President Joko Widodo at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, on Wednesday.

During the aid release, the President was accompanied by several ministers, including Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy, Foreign Minister (Menlu) Retno Marsudi, Finance Minister (Menkeu) Mulyani, Public Works and Housing Minister (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono, and Health Minister (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

All humanitarian aid sent to Sudan and Egypt is allocated from the budget of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPN).

Sending Aid to Palestine and Sudan via Air Route

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated that the Indonesian government is ready to send social assistance to victims of the Palestine and Sudan conflicts via air route using aircraft as an alternative distribution channel due to frequent attacks on land routes.

"There are many obstacles to delivering aid on land, ranging from check-ins to aid being attacked. Therefore, we are looking for non-land routes, in this case, Indonesia is invited by Jordan to deliver aid by air," she told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday.

She mentioned that considering security and the speed of aid delivery to the victims, the Indonesian government has agreed to Jordan's invitation to send aid via air route using aircraft.

On this occasion, the Indonesian government through the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) will send aid in the form of medicines and various medical equipment to the victims of the Palestine and Sudan conflicts, which is planned to be realized next week.

She stated that in the delivery of aid, Indonesia is collaborating with the Government of Egypt. Then, the health aids will be directly utilized through the Egyptian Ministry of Health for the benefit of the conflict victims.

"Especially in Northern Gaza, where nearly 600,000 people there are very lacking in aid due to the numerous obstacles on land routes, so this time we are trying to send aid by air," she said.

The Foreign Minister emphasized that from all the efforts that have been made so far to Palestine and Sudan, it proves that Indonesia's commitment is clear and always ready to support the cessation of conflicts in upholding the values of justice and humanity. (*)