I

ndonesia is gathering disaster relief for victims of the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal over the weekend, claiming the lives of more than 2,500 people and inflicting irreparable damage to the region.

The government, along with a number of NGOs and humanitarian aid agencies, will donate upward of US$2 million in disaster relief in the form of ready-to-use supplies and the deployment of relief crew, according to officials.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the government was planning to provide disaster relief worth $1 million to Nepal, in addition to assistance from NGOs and humanitarian agencies that would double the sum to $2 million.

'€œThe aid is slated for delivery to Nepal on Friday, or Sunday at the latest'€, Sutopo said on Mondvay.

The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) said Monday it was waiting for the assessment of international rescue teams led by the Nepalese Red Cross to get information on the required logistics and number of relief crew personnel to send.

'€œWe are [preparing] to send out logistics and volunteers. We'€™re waiting for results from the Nepalese authorities [...] so we can send logistics and medical volunteers based on the requirements on the ground,'€ said PMI chief executive Ginandjar Kartasasmita.

Separately, Deputy Foreign Minister AM Fachir said that the ministry would work closely with the BNPB and relevant parties with experience in conducting humanitarian aid on the field.

Prior to a meeting with the BNPB on Monday, he said the government would focus on mobility when seeking out a solution to delivering assistance, especially since the initial earthquake and the accompanying aftershock cut off much of the access into Nepal.

Fachir acknowledged that it was difficult for the government to identify and report on the Indonesian nationals who might have been affected by the disaster due to a lack of resources on the ground.

'€œEfforts to rescue our citizens [in Nepal] have been hampered by the lack of a representative office. We only have an honorary consulate there, which is why our data will vary from time to time,'€ he said.

According to the ministry'€™s estimates, there are currently 35 Indonesians that are safe from harm and 14 others that the government has not succeeded in contacting. This brings the total number of known Indonesians in Nepal at the time of the earthquake to 49 people, comprising 18 permanent residents and 31 visitors. (saf)