Furthermore, we are currently also preparing and collecting (other forms of) assistance, such as food and logistics
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government will send several forms of assistance in two batches to help the victims of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that jolted Turkey and Syria, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) stated.

Acting Head of BNPB’s Center for Disaster Data, Information, and Communication, Abdul Muhari, noted here on Thursday that firstly, Indonesia would deploy a medium urban search and rescue (USAR) team comprising 47 personnel of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).

"We should be proud that the Basarnas team has international SAR (search and rescue) certification. Thus, we can send (our) SAR personnel (to help) when disasters occur (abroad) at the regional scale," he remarked.

Muhari remarked that the 47 SAR personnel will be accompanied by a disaster handling team from BNPB and will depart in the next one to two days.

Currently, his side is waiting for the issuance of flight clearance for the Indonesian Air Force’s Hercules aircraft used to bring the SAR personnel and equipment.

The equipment includes two units of operational vehicles that will be used in Turkey.

"For the second batch, we will deploy an emergency medical technician or EMT team, consisting of at least 90 personnel from the Health Ministry, military, police, and community organizations that are also qualified in medical emergency response," the BNPB acting head stated.

He remarked that the EMT team will bring along complete health equipment, medicines, and a field hospital unit.

Muhari noted that the team is capable of conducting victim rescue and emergency medical operations in the field.

Hence, he expected that the personnel, medical equipment, and field hospital can optimally support the rescue operation for the victims of the earthquake that hit on Monday (February 6, 2023) morning local time.

"Furthermore, we are currently also preparing and collecting (other forms of) assistance, such as food and logistics, which we will also send in the near future as soon as possible, along with the cash aid of about US$1 million for Turkey and US$1 million for Syria," he added.

The food and logistics aid will be sent directly from Indonesia aboard four aircraft -- two for each country -- with a total assistance of 70 tons for each country.

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Translator: Devi Ramadhan, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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