With the many offers of assistance from countries and the flow of solidarity from the international community, Indonesia is confident that it has many friends, and not opponents, in the world.
Friends are great to have, their importance cannot be overestimated. For the very earliest stage of life, friendship has been a natural part of the human condition.
Having a lot of friends in the world will make Indonesia much easier to deal with the calamities and disasters that are being faced by the country.
In truth, good friends can help the country cope with the traumas of life events, including during such calamities and natural disasters in Poso and Donggala, Central Sulawesi.
With friends who will always be there for Indonesia when it needs them comes a greater peace of mind, because we know that no matter what life throws at us, our friends will always be there for us.
Following a devastating earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale, and tsunami in Palu and Donggala on September 27, 2018, many countries including the United States, those of the European Union (EU), Japan, and Afghanistan, have expressed condolences and offered assistance to the victims of the natural disaster.
In a written statement from the US Embassy in Jakarta, President Donald Trump contacted his Indonesian counterpart, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), to express his condolences and offer assistance.
The US government is offering assistance and is ready to work with the Indonesian government to identify additional assistance from the US, as the best support effort.
In addition, the European Union has offered support for Indonesia to cope with the earthquake and tsunami disasters inflicting Central Sulawesi Province.
EU High Representative/Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini, and Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides, said the EU had activated its emergency satellite Mapping Service Copernicus to help Indonesian authorities.
The EU is ready, with the full support for the people of Indonesia, at this time of difficulty and will continue to follow the situation, to mobilize more support.
Besides the US and EU, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono has offered condolences and sympathy through Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi following the earthquake and tsunami that hit Central Sulawesi.
Minister Taro Kono conveyed his deep condolences to the families of the victims, according to a statement from the Japanese embassy in Jakarta.
The Japanese government said it was ready to provide assistance to the Indonesian government in any form to deal with the impact of the earthquake.
Later on Thursday, the Afghan government expressed its condolences over the earthquake that devastated several areas in Central Sulawesi Province.
"Once again, I convey my condolences and sympathy to you and to the people of Indonesia for the losses and calamities that occurred in Palu," Chief Executive of the Afghan Government Abdullah stated, while meeting President Jokowi at the Merdeka Palace on Thursday.
Abdullah was undertaking a visit to Indonesia to follow up on several bilateral cooperation plans.
He explained that President Jokowi`s visit to Kabul in January 2018, and President Ashraf Ghani`s visit to Indonesia, have resulted in various plans for potential bilateral cooperation.
Eighteen countries have offered help for the victims of the 7.4- magnitude earthquake and tsunami in Palu and Donggala.
The 18 countries include the United States, France, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Norway, Hungary, Turkey, the European Union, Australia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, India and China, in addition to the UN Development Program (UNDP).
Also, President Jokowi confirmed that the foreign assistance to deal with the impact of the earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi had begun to enter the area.
When visiting the disaster site in Petobo Village, South Palu Sub-district, Palu City, on Wednesday, President Jokowi said aid from foreign countries had begun to arrive.
According to President Jokowi, friendly countries have expressed their commitment as good friends for assistance during the search and reconstruction phases in Central Sulawesi.
As of Thursday, the Indonesian government noted that it had received donations from four foreign countries to provide emergency aid after the earthquake and tsunami in Palu, Central Sulawesi.
The assistance, in the form of transport planes, generators and curing equipment, has been sent from the governments of Singapore, India, Australia, New Zealand and Qatar.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, at the Vice Presidential Palace on Thursday, called the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Wiranto and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to discuss the acceptance of international assistance.
In the meantime, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the four countries had obtained permission to enter Indonesian territory to provide aircraft and tools for emergency response in Palu, Central Sulawesi.
In addition, there are still two countries that have applied for entry permits to Indonesia to bring aid, namely Japan and the United States.
Editing by Rahmad Nasution
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
