WNAM REPPORT: The Indonesian Government sent two aircraft carrying aid weighing 50.5 tons to Vanuatu, which recently bore the brunt of an earthquake.
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono released the two aircraft at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base on Friday at 5 p.m. local time.
Officers were packing at least two aid containers containing medicines, medical equipment, food assistance, and evacuation logistics into the Garuda Indonesia aircraft numbered PK-GFM and BBN Airline Indonesia PK-BBN.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) data noted that Indonesia’s assistance to Vanuatu this time weighed 50.5 tons valued at Rp11.7 billion (USD1 = around Rp16,221)
In addition to logistical assistance, Indonesia has sent a team of 15 paramedic personnel to provide humanitarian assistance, which includes specialists in surgery, orthopedics, internal medicine, anesthesia, and emergency medicine.
This team also comprises three general practitioners, five nurses, one pharmacist, and one logistics expert staff.
The planes will depart from Jakarta to Jayapura, Papua, and then to Port Vila City, Vanuatu. The aircraft will return to Jakarta via transit at Fiji International Airport.
The earthquake that hit Vanuatu on Tuesday (December 17) reportedly affected 80 thousand people, including 14,104 children and 769 people with disabilities.
The disaster caused 18 mortality cases, injured 200 people, and forced 947 people to seek shelter in churches and residents’ houses in Manples, Britano, Kaweriki, and Kona. The country set an emergency status on December 17-24, 2024.
With such assistance, the government hopes to ease the burden on the people of Vanuatu while strengthening bilateral relations in the Pacific region.
