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Saudi Arabia sends more assistance to Padang
Saudi Arabia, the birth place of Islam, on Wednesday sent another planeload of humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Padang, the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Jakarta said Wednesday
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audi Arabia, the birth place of Islam, on Wednesday sent another planeload of humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Padang, the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Jakarta said Wednesday.
So far, including the latest shipment, Saudi Arabia has sent 150 metric tons of humanitarian aid to the West Sumatra capital.
“We are planning to send a total of 300 metric tons of humanitarian aid to Padang, including tents, blankets, carpet and food,” Saudi Arabian Embassy deputy head of mission Majed Abdulaziz Al Dayel said on Tuesday.
There were several reports in the local media that Saudi Arabia would donate US$50 million to quake victims, but embassy officials declined to comment since there had been no official announcement from Riyadh.
Meanwhile, Russia’s search and rescue (SAR) team have decided to stay on in West Sumatra while most other foreign rescue teams are preparing to leave the area on Wednesday. The Russians had arrived with equipment and a mobile hospital in the earthquake-hit Padang city, a week ago.
“The victims need the hospital and medicine, which we have. That is why the Russian team is staying in Sumatra,” Russian SAR team chief Vladimir Legoshin said in a press release sent to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
“It is too early to speak about the final phase of the operation”.
Rescue teams from South Korea, Switzerland, Britain, Japan have decided to leave Padang after finishing their rescue operations.
Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali recently sent a message of condolences to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
“I would like to convey to Your Excellency, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Tunisian government and people, my deepest condolences and my sincere feelings of sympathy and consolation, praying Allah the Almighty to bless the victims with His infinite mercy,” Ben Ali said in his message.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul sent a similar message to Yudhoyono.
“The Turkish people fully share the pain and sorrow of the friendly and brotherly people of Indonesia. We are ready to provide every kind of support and assistance in order to alleviate the sufferings from the tragedy, in—line with your needs,” Gul said.
The 75-member French team, which arrived in Padang on Sunday, successfully built a clean water treatment and distribution plant in Pariaman, West Sumatra, the French Embassy in Jakarta told the Post via email.
Australian Defense Force engineers also established a water treatment plant in Padang on Tuesday, the Australian Department of Defense said in a press release.
As of Wednesday, the plant, which basically converts sea water into drinking water, will produce 10,000 liters of clean water per hour.
“The water tasted fine. It is great that Australians can turn sea water into drinking water. Australia’s help is really appreciated,” Padang Deputy Mayor Mahyeldi said.
The water purification plant is in addition to the A$2.8 million initial response package provided by Australia to Indonesia in the immediate aftermath of the 7.6 magnitude disaster, which devastated several places in West Sumatra and killed 704 people and injured thousands.
