"Indonesia has expressed condolences to the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. Our team is ready to depart," said Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Saturday.
The minister said Indonesian volunteers and medical personnel were ready to depart at any time, and it`s just the time for the mechanism administration to be completed.
At the moment, the Indonesian government has held a talk consisting of the Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the humanitarian teams sending.
"We must make sure what is needed in the disaster area, before we send anything," he said.
Agung Laksono also stated that Indonesia is obliged to help the Japanese because, they have done similar thing when Indonesia various natural disasters such as the Aceh tsunami, Eruption of Mount Merapi volcano, major earthquake in Yogyakarta, and the flash floods in Wasior Papua.
The minister also praised the handling and management of disaster in Japan.
"Yesterday, Japan was rocked by 8.9 magnitude earthquake followed by tsunami. I have not heard the latest news, how many casualties. But the country`s ability to handle the impact is extraordinary," he explained.
Recently, Indonesia has sent a humanitarian team to assist victims of flash floods in Australia and Pakistan earlier.(*)
(A050/B/HAJM/H-YH)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
