JAKARTA – Dompet Dhuafa donors continue to seek various assistance for Indonesian in Turkey and Syria that were hit by the M 7.8 earthquake on February 6, 2023. Along with the third phase of assistance from the Indonesian people released by President Joko Widodo, on Tuesday (22/2/2023) at the Halim Perdana Kusuma Air Force Base Airstrip, East Jakarta, Dompet Dhuafa again sent logistical assistance to disaster victims.
The assistance released by the Indonesian government today is in the form of food and logistics, with a total of 140 tons using four airbus aircraft owned by Garuda Indonesia. The delivery of this third aid phase is a form of humanitarian diplomacy as a form of concern from all Indonesians to the Turkish and Syrian governments.
“Today’s morning, we will send four planes to Turkey and Syria, which contain 140 tons of foodstuffs and other indispensable logistical materials. Hopefully, what we send can help our brothers and sisters who are there,” said Jokowi when giving a speech.
The aid release was also attended by Dompet Dhuafa Prima, Director of Communication and Technology Hadi Putra and several other humanitarian agencies. Then, also accompanying the President of the Republic of Indonesia, namely Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Commander of the TNI Admiral Yudo Margono, Chief of Police General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. TNI Suharyanto, Head of Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Marsdya TNI Henri Alfiandi.
Meanwhile, the logistical assistance that Dompet Dhuafa also sent was folding mattresses, blankets, and other warming items. Hopefully, this assistance can help earthquake victims facing severe tests.
Prima Hadi said since the beginning of the earthquake, the Indonesian people through Dompet Dhuafa have distributed assistance in the form of ready-to-eat food equipment and warming goods. Currently, the Dompet Dhuafa team in Turkey also continues to operate to carry out various responses. One is creating a makeshift kitchen in Antakya City with a production capacity of approximately 100 food packages daily, distributed to survivors every morning and evening.
“There, we have joined the Ministry of Health’s EMT (emergency medical team), which already operates an emergency hospital in Hatay. With the aftershock in Turkey that occurred last night (20/2/2023, 20:04 local time), we hope that the community will continue to be resilient to face the test,” he explained.
He added that Dompet Dhuafa would continue to strive to accommodate and distribute aid from the Indonesian people to Turkey and Syria. This action will continue to roll until the emergency response process is completed, which will continue in rehabilitation and reconstruction.
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BNPB Chief Lt. Gen. TNI Suharyanto, in his talk with Prima, expressed his gratitude for Dompet Dhuafa’s contribution to helping the government deal with the Turkish and Syrian disasters. According to him, Dompet Dhuafa is a bridge for good people who want to help their brothers and sisters who are experiencing disasters, even though they are in other countries.
Based on the monitoring of the Dompet Dhuafa team at the disaster management site, the survivors need emergency assistance in the form of warming materials to survive through the cold weather. Let’s rally the ranks and strengthen solidarity in helping our brothers and sisters in Turkey and Syria. Good friends can send help and prayers through the following page: https://digital.dompetdhuafa.org/donasi/gempaturki. It is time for the world to be empowered to face disasters. (Dompet Dhuafa/Muthohar)