Wahyu Dwi Anggoro
IDXChannel - The Indonesian government facilitated the second phase delivery of humanitarian aid on Monday (20/11/2023). The assistance for the Palestinian people was sent via Halim Perdanakusuma Airport after the successful delivery of the first phase of aid earlier in November.
The total aid sent amounted to 21.7 tons, comprising 3.3 tons from the Indonesian government, consisting of medicines and health supplies, and 18.4 tons from the Indonesian people, including canned food, mattresses, blankets, hygiene kits (for adults and children), ready-to-eat meals, and other supplies.
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Pahala Mansury, conveyed that the distribution mechanism of the aid would follow the same process as the first phase.
"We are collaborating with UNRWA and ERC to ensure that the aid can be transported from Al Arish to the crossing and from the crossing to various points within Gaza to distribute the aid through UNRWA," said the Vice Foreign Minister.
The second-phase aid consists of two components: aid from the Indonesian government and the Indonesian people. The government's aid comes from the International Development Cooperation Fund and aid within the framework of Grants to the Palestinian people through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA). Meanwhile, aid from the Indonesian people includes donated goods collected by individuals or NGOs, as well as Indonesian companies such as the Indonesian Humanitarian Alliance, Kita Bisa, Baznas, PT. Paragon, and We Care.
The Indonesian government's aid was handed over to the Egypt Red Crescent (ERC) in Egypt and UNRWA as co-consignees at El Arish Airport, Egypt. ERC will function as a facilitator for Indonesian goods in El Arish, transport from Al Arish to Rafah Crossing, and manage the entry of Indonesian aid at the border with the Israeli government, then hand it over to UNRWA. Aid from the Indonesian people was handed over to ERC, which managed the aid and then delivered it to parties designated by ERC for distribution in Palestine.
Previously, the Indonesian government and its people had collected humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza for the first-phase aid, which was dispatched by President Joko Widodo on 4 November. The aid arrived in El Arish on 6 November, and was directly handed over by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia to ERC. After the repacking process, checks by Egyptian and Israeli authorities, and queuing to enter Rafah Crossing, the convoy of Indonesian aid trucks crossed into Gaza on 9-10 November 9-10. The aid was then distributed by the Palestinian Red Crescent to various refugee gathering points. (WHY)
