JAKARTA, July 8 (Bernama-Antara) — President Joko Widodo on Monday sent humanitarian aid to landslide victims in Papua New Guinea and people affected by the earthquake and floods in Afghanistan from the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, the Indonesian News Agency (Antara) reported.
“On May 24 (2024), Enga province in Papua New Guinea was hit by a devastating landslide. Afghanistan was hit by an earthquake in October 2023, causing many casualties and refugees,” Widodo said at the aid delivery ceremony.
According to him, climate change and global warming have caused weather anomalies that have caused many disasters, not only in Indonesia, but also in various parts of the world.
Widodo said Papua New Guinea’s geographical proximity is one of the reasons for the aid delivery.
“Papua New Guinea is our close neighbour. So when disaster strikes, we have to help, and so does Afghanistan,” he added.
The aid to Papua New Guinea included medicines, food and hygiene kits, worth a total of 18 billion rupees ($1.07 million). The aid to Afghanistan included 10 items worth 17.5 billion rupees ($1.04 million).
The head of state expressed hope that humanitarian aid would ease the burden on victims of natural disasters in Papua New Guinea and Afghanistan and enable them to get back on their feet.
He also urged the delegation delivering humanitarian aid to properly carry out its mandate and maintain security while it carries out its tasks and returns to its home country.
From Jakarta, the humanitarian aid will be sent to Port Moresby International Airport for further distribution by the Papua New Guinea government.
The government has confirmed that the death toll from the landslides in Enga has now reached at least 670, with the number of refugees estimated at 1,250.
Meanwhile, the death toll from heavy rains and floods in Afghanistan has reached 400, according to the country’s authorities.
At least 18 people have been killed in floods in Faryab province, on Turkmenistan’s border with Afghanistan.
— BERNAMA-ANTARA
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