Indonesia stops humanitarian aid delivery for Myanmar quake victims

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has ended its humanitarian mission for earthquake victims in Myanmar after completing the delivery of three batches of humanitarian aid on March 31, April 1, and this Thursday.

"Today's delivery is the last batch. After today, communities who wish to send their donation must use their own channels. The government will no longer facilitate it," Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto stated after the send-off of the humanitarian aid at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta on Thursday.

He highlighted that the government also deployed 157 personnel to Myanmar in this humanitarian mission. As many as 92 of them have arrived in Myanmar to conduct several missions.

This team comprises personnel from various ministries and institutions, such as the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, the Ministry of Health, BNPB, and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).

In terms of logistics, the government sent a total of 124 tons of aid. Currently, around 24 tons of aid from the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Headquarters and the Ministry of Defense have arrived in Myanmar.

Suharyanto revealed that some equipment from Basarnas, including two trucks, generators, and other equipment, have arrived in Myanmar, while the others are included in today's shipment.

"For the third batch of delivery, we are using two planes, namely one Garuda 747-800 plane and one cargo plane. This carries approximately 105 tons of aid, including medicines from the Ministry of Health, as well as donations from the Ministry of Agriculture, Basnas, BNPB, and the private sector," he detailed.

According to the agency head, the private aid comes from Dompet Dhuafa, Rumah Zakat, Human Initiative, AGP, Budha Tzu Chi, and others.

On the same occasion, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, said that all the aid sent was based on the needs of the victims of the 7.7M earthquake in Myanmar on March 28.

He stated that logistics and humanitarian personnel were dispatched from the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta to Naypyidaw City, Myanmar.