We see the need for health workers there. That is why we will first coordinate with the Syrian and Turkish governments regarding their needs.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has instructed Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy to prepare the delivery of humanitarian aid for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.

Minister Effendy said that he would hole a meeting with the relevant ministries and government agencies to follow up the order.

"I was ordered by President Jokowi to immediately prepare humanitarian aid for Turkey and Syria," he told the press at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He did not confirm what kind of humanitarian aid would be sent by Indonesia to Turkey and Syria.

He, however, said that Indonesia will send aid workers by coordinating with the Turkish and Syrian governments based on their requirements.

"We see the need for health workers there. That is why we will first coordinate with the Syrian and Turkish governments regarding their needs," Effendy explained.

On Tuesday, President Widodo confirmed that he will send humanitarian aid for victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

"The assistance is being prepared by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and also the Ministry of Social Affairs. It has just been prepared and will be sent as soon as possible; this morning we are still looking for planes," he informed.

In addition, the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) will send 47 personnel to assist the authorities in Turkey in evacuation operations.

Director of preparedness at Basarnas, Agus Haryono, informed that the personnel will be deployed at the request of the Turkish government.

"We will dispatch a joint search and rescue (SAR) team consisting of 47 personnel, including officers from Basarnas, military, police, and the Health Ministry. We will provide assistance to search for and rescue victims who are still trapped underneath collapsed buildings," he said.

An earthquake measuring 7.7 in magnitude shook Pazarcik district in Kahramanmaras province, Turkey, on February 6 morning. The quake was also felt in a number of other provinces in the country.

The same day, an aftershock with a magnitude of 7.6 was reported in the same area.

Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) reported that at least 3,432 people died and 21,103 others were injured in the disaster.

Meanwhile, in Syria, the government and evacuation teams reported that the disaster had caused at least 1,622 fatalities and injured more than 3,649 people.


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Translator: Gilang Galiartha, Resinta S
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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