MER-C deems it necessary to send a surgical team to help handle the acute phase in the first two weeks. To that end, we will send a surgical team.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) is set to send a surgical team to provide medical assistance to earthquake victims in Afghanistan next week.

"MER-C deems it necessary to send a surgical team to help handle the acute phase in the first two weeks. To that end, we will send a surgical team,” chief of MER-C presidium, Dr. Sarbini Abdul Murad, said at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.

The surgical team will comprise an orthopedist, an anesthesiologist, a general practitioner, and nurses.

“The number of personnel we will send is likely 4–5, comprising a surgeon, anesthesiologist, a general practitioner, and nurse(s),” he said.

The surgical team will leave next week so that they can help the victims soon, he added.

“We will make an effort to enable them to depart soon. We will coordinate with the Foreign Ministry and the Indonesian Embassy in Afghanistan,” he said.

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The MER-C also appealed to the Indonesian government to take humanitarian steps to help the victims and coordinate with the Afghan government to ensure that the aid mission runs well.

“We need the government to send a mission, either in view of very minimum transportation system there. (The number of) decent buildings and hospitals there is also very minimum. Therefore, there need to be field hospitals. The presence of the government is highly awaited by the victims in Afghanistan,” Murad said.

An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale rattled Afghanistan on June 22, 2022. The earthquake was centered 44 kilometers from Khost, near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

The quake occurred early when local people were still in bed. Therefore, many could not save themselves.

According to preliminary data, at least 1,000 people died and 1,500 others sustained injuries in the quake. The number will likely increase as the search for other victims trapped under the debris of their homes is still under way.

Related news: PMI coordinates with Red Crescent to help Afghan quake victims

Translator: Katrina, Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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