RI sends $3.3 million worth of assistance to Pakistan

Antara News, Tuesday, August 31, 2010 15:56 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The total assistance of Indonesian aid to Pakistani flood victims is worth $3.3 million and it will be sent to the country in two stages.

Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono said here on Tuesday that the total assistant was worth $3.3 million and the fist stage has been sent to Pakistan and the second would follow.

"The first stage of assistance, amounting $1.3 million in the form of logistics and medicine was sent to Pakistan early of this month," Agung Laksono said here on Tuesday.

He added that the second stage in the form of cash money would be sent on Wednesday, September 1, 2010.

"In the second stage of the assistance we will send a cash of $2 million along with National Defense Forces (TNI) and medical personnel," Agung Laksono said.

He said a 45-member group consisting of medical personnel, TNI personnel, and National Board of Disaster Mitigation personnel would soon be sent to Pakistan.

"The dispatch of the second phase assistance to Pakistani flood victims is in accordance with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s instruction," Laksono said.

He said the first phase of assistance which has been sent to Pakistan was made up of among others 4,000 pieces of blanket, 500 packages of canned food, 3 tons of medicine, and 50 tons baby food.

According to Agung Laksono, the dispatch of humanitarian assistance to Pakistan was part of Indonesian solidarity to the flood victims in the country.