Jokowi made the statement after monitoring the simulation of delivering aid by air held at the Iswahjudi Airbase, Magetan District, East Java, on Friday.
“Indonesia is one of the countries that has been given the opportunity to provide assistance to Gaza, to the people of Palestine by air because, by land, it is already difficult,” he said in a statement from the Presidential Secretariat.
President Jokowi stated that the aid would be delivered by using Hercules aircraft.
During Friday’s simulation event, several Hercules aircraft and helicopters airdropped boxes from a certain height.
"Earlier, we first tried to see what it would be like using Hercules aircraft, and we will immediately bring aid to Gaza and drop it from the air using our Hercules aircraft. This has been simulated, and I see the results are good," he said.
The president highlighted Indonesia’s commitment to continuing to support the people of Palestine. Through the assistance, Indonesia is hoping to be able to ease the burden of people in Gaza.
Earlier, in December 2023, the Indonesian government promised to increase its contribution by threefold to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in 2024.
The Indonesian government sent the first batch of humanitarian assistance to Gaza on November 4, 2023.
The assistance, weighing 51.8 tons, comprised aid from various parties. From the total, seven tons are humanitarian assistance managed by the Ministry of Health.
The assistance comprised medical equipment, hygiene kit, food, and other logistics.
On November 20, 2023, the government then sent another batch of humanitarian assistance that included medicines and hospital equipment worth Rp31.9 billion (around US$2.04 million).
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Raka Adji
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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