"There are a number of WNIs working there. The government has evacuated 119 of them. We hope no Indonesian citizen fall victim," Ani Yudhoyono said when attending a function commemorating the anniversary of the National Handicraft Council (Dekranas) here Thursday.
The Indonesian people, she said, could feel the sorrows and heavy burden of the Japanese people because Indonesia had once experienced a similar natural disaster in Aceh in 2004.
"The earthquake and tsunami devastated the area and killed many people. We can understanding the feelings of the Japanese people because we once also experienced a similar natural disaster," she said.
Therefore, she expressed her deepest condolences and sympathy to Japan.
Meanwhile, earlier on Thursday morning, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono saw off an Indonesian humanitarian team to Japan.
Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa was present on the occasion.
The team consisting of 15 members, are scheduled to leave for Tokyo, on Thursday evening.
The 15-member team would be part of 65 people who have been prepared to be sent to Japan, the minister said.
The 15 people are among others from Basarnas (National Search And Rescue Agency), TNI (National Defense Forces), the health ministry, and BNPB (National Agency of Disaster Mitigation).
They bring along with them 10,000 blankets for victims of the massive earthquake and tsunami that had hit Japan last March 11, 2011.
The Indonesian government has also pledged to provide two million US dollars to help the natural disaster victims in Japan.
"The money amounting to two million US dollars will be transferred directly to the Japanese government," Minister Agung Laksono said.
(T. P008/Uu.F001/HAJM/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
