News, Articles & Reviews

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government on Thursday sent humanitarian aid to Myanmar to help victims of Cyclone Nargis.

Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Aburizal Bakrie saw off the two C-130 planes that took off from the Halim Perdnamusuma air force base in east Jakarta with the relief aid on board.

The 24,835 tons of aid consisted, among other things, of garments (3,325 tons), medicines (13,440 tons), supplementary food (774 collies), instant noodles (400 collies), biscuits (150 collies), blankets (8,070 tons), sarongs (5,000 pieces), and emergency tents, according to information from the coordinating minister for people`s welfare office here on Thursday.

The Myanmar government had confirmed that over 22,000 people died and more than 41,000 others went missing during Cyclone Nargis which struck the Southeast Asian nation May 2-3. Initial estimates suggest that up to 1 million people are currently homeless, and many more require assistance.

Indonesia decided to provide relief aid worth US$1 million to Myanmar to help victims of Cyclone Nargis, Dino Patty Djalal, a presidential spokesman said recently.

The tragedy reminded President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of the deadly tsunami in Aceh on December 26, 2004, Dino Patty Djalal said. (*)

Source