"Last night, President @jokowi authorized us to accept international help for urgent disaster-response and relief. I am helping to coordinate assistance from private sectors around the world. Please message me at my social media accounts or email: tom@bkpm.go.id," Thomas Lembong, head of the Investment Coordinating Board, noted on its Twitter account, @tomlembong, Monday.
Meanwhile, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, said he had coordinated the matter with Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L. P. Marsudi.
"I just contacted the foreign affairs minister in New York. She said that the president has expressed willingness to accept international assistance in accordance with our needs. It means we welcome international offers. It will be latter coordinated with the coordinating minister for political, legal, and security affairs," he stated.
The Agency and the Foreign Affairs Ministry are currently preparing the mechanism and procedures in line with the existing regulations, he added.
He, however, said the government will not declare the earthquake and tsunami in Palu and Donggala a national disaster, although the government welcomes foreign aid.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the earthquake and tsunami has risen to 1,203, the Team of Quick Action (ACT) stated here on Monday.
"The death toll reached 1,203 at several spots. The largest was in Petobo, which was swept and leveled to the ground by the tsunami," Vice President of ACT Insan Nurrohman stated here on Monday.
There were 700 bodies in Kelurahan Petobo, 10 at Wirabuana Hospital, 201 at Undata Hospital, 50 in Mesjid Raya (Mosque), 161 at Bhayangkara Hospital, 35 at the Tawaeli sub-district, two in the village of Kayumalue Pajeko, five in the village of Kawatuna, seven in Pos Pol PP, and 32 at the Madani hospital.
Nurrohman noted that the death toll is feared to rise, as there were still many missing, including 61 foreign nationals, and 540 seriously injured being treated at several hospitals.
Reporting by Hanni Sofia
Reporting by Fardah Assegaf, Bustanudin
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
