We help each other. The Turkish government and people are always there whenever we experience a disaster
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Supporting the handling of the Turkey quake has been the largest international humanitarian operation that the Indonesian government has ever carried out, according to Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy.

The humanitarian mission to Turkey has been the largest ever conducted by Indonesia, with aid provided in the form of search and rescue as well as medical personnel, goods, and air transportation, he noted in a written statement released on Thursday.

Specifically, it has involved more than 250 personnel, 5 humanitarian aircraft units, 110 tons of cargo, 50 instant food containers, 1 field hospital, and 2 soup kitchens that are operational round-the-clock to this day.

In terms of personnel support, Indonesia sent a search and rescue team (INASAR), which has finished its duty and has returned to Indonesia, as well as an emergency medical team to Turkey.

Meanwhile, for air transportation, the Indonesian government is currently operating a wide-body transport aircraft Hercules C-130 requested by the Turkish government for ferrying humanitarian logistics.

This aid is a form of Indonesia's compassion toward the people and the government of Turkey, Effendy remarked.

He said he expects the aid from Indonesia to help alleviate the suffering of Turkish citizens affected by the recent 7.8-magnitude temblor.

The Indonesian government and people can feel the sorrow that the Turkish people are experiencing given that Indonesians also frequently experience disasters, he added.

In addition, the humanitarian aid is also a symbol of the close relations between the Indonesian and Turkish governments.

"We help each other. The Turkish government and people are always there whenever we experience a disaster," the minister highlighted.

For instance, Turkey provided assistance when the people of Aceh and its surrounding regions were affected by an earthquake and a tsunami in 2004 and when the people of Central Sulawesi experienced a similar disaster in 2018.

At the time, the Turkish government was the first to help the Indonesian people, thus, Aceh has a village developed by the Turkish people.

Effendy said that the two countries can share their experiences, specifically in disaster mitigation. They can also support each other in facing potential disasters in the future.

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Translator: Devi Nindy S R, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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