Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) Indonesia confirmed its 32 volunteers in Gaza, Palestine, and four in Myanmar were unable to vote following no access to polling facilities during the 2019 legislative and presidential elections.

"In Gaza Strait, we are aware of the fact that there is no access to voting, while continuing conflicts in Myanmar place restrictions on mobility," Dr Sarbini Abdul Murad, the MER-C Indonesia Presidium, noted here on Wednesday.

The volunteers are involved in the construction of the second phase of the Indonesia Hospital in Gaza, while four volunteers in Myanmar are engaged in developing the Indonesia-Myanmar Friendship Hospital in collaboration with the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and the Indonesian Association of Buddhists (Walubi), as well as through the support extended by the Government of Indonesia.

The Myanmar volunteers could have, in fact, cast their ballot in Yangon.

"However, one major drawback is that re-entering Rakhine State would become challenging for them once they left the state," he pointed out.

The hospital is being built on a seven thousand square-meter plot of land in Myaung Bwe Village, Mrauk U Township, Rakhine State, Myanmar.

"Hence, the MER-C team was unable to vote owing to the difficulty faced in entering Gaza and Rakhine. Once they head out to Yangon, re-entering Rakhine becomes a tough ordeal," Rima Manzanari, MER-C operational manager, remarked.

Nonetheless, the volunteers offered prayers, so that elections across Indonesia are held smoothly and peacefully, he added.

Translator: Andi Jauhari, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2019