On Monday, Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), General Agus Subiyanto, welcomed the arrival of the 24 soldiers, who are members of the Natural Disaster Management Operation Task Force to the Philippines, at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base.
"This task force is a form of solidarity between ASEAN countries in facing natural disasters. Our soldiers were deployed to evacuate and distribute logistical assistance to disaster-affected areas," he remarked in his speech.
Subiyanto highlighted that the government awarded the 24 soldiers for their success in accomplishing the humanitarian mission.
"I hope the success of this humanitarian task force can be an example and motivation for other units to respond quickly and appropriately if a natural disaster occurs both at home and abroad," he emphasized.
The Disaster Management Operation Task Force to the Philippines, led by Task Force Commander, Colonel Asep Wahyu Wijaya, began its humanitarian mission by departing from Jakarta to Manila on October 28, 2024.
In the mission, the TNI deployed two helicopters, namely the Mi-17 from the Ahmad Yani Army Main Air Base in Semarang, Central Java, and the H225M Caracal helicopter from the Atang Sendjaja Air Base in Bogor District, West Java.
The task force comprised one commander, operations officer, intelligence officer, information personnel, 10 Mi-17 helicopter crew members, and 10 H225M Caracal crew.
Upon arrival in Manila, the task force continued to load additional aid from Villamor Airport, Manila, and then headed to Naga City and Bicol, Calaguas Islands, to deliver the aid.
The aid packages delivered to disaster victims included food, clean water, and other basic necessities.
After completing their duties, the 24 TNI soldiers, who were part of the task force, also received the "Award of the Military Civic Action Medal" from the Philippine government and an award from the chief of staff of the Philippine Air Force.
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Translator: Genta Tenri M, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
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