"We are still collecting information and data with regard to their condition."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - As many as 267 Indonesian citizens in Japan are still unaccounted for following a huge earthquake and tsunami on Friday (March, 11).

At a press conference here on Tuesday Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa however said the 267 nationals could not as yet be declared missing as efforts to confirm their status were still being made until now.

"We are still collecting information and data with regard to their condition," he said.

He said the Indonesian embassy continued receiving new data on the number of Indonesians found safe from day to day.

A total of 496 Indonesians lived near areas worst-hit by the tsunami, namely 274 in Miyagi, 120 in Iwate and 82 in Fukushima which is currently also facing radiation threats from troubled nuclear power plants in the region.

The Indonesian embassy first received confirmation that 193 nationals had been found safe and then another 20, another 20 again and later 19.

Therefore, Marty said, the 267 people could not as yet be declared missing.

He said the first batch of evacuees were expected to arrive here from Japan at 5.50pm on Tuesday.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with presidential advisory board member Ginanjar Kartasasmita, representatives from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Industry Minister MS Hidayat and Minister Marty Natalegawa to discuss the right aid to be given to Japan.

Ginanjar said Indonesia would likely send blankets, tents and

emergency shelter equipment. Marty added Indonesia might also send financial aid but how much it would be has not been decided. He said Indonesia is also ready to send rescue teams under the coordination of the National Disaster Management Agency that have skills to be needed for conditions in Japan.

"This certainly has to be matched with what Japan needs as the Japanese government has asked for a self-sufficient team in terms of language skills and mobility so that they would not burden others," he said.

Ginanjar said Indonesia was`determined to help Japan because that country had given much to Indonesia which it dealt with tsunami in Aceh, earthquakes in Yogyakarta and West Sumatra.

He said people could participate in the relief effort with humanitarian assistance that would be coordinated by the government and non-governmental organizations.

Marty said Indonesia would also conduct humanitarian diplomacy to collect multilateral aid for Japan. As chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Indonesia has a moral responsibility to mobilize ASEAN members to help Japan, he said.
(T.D013/H-YH/HAJM/S012)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011