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Indonesia awaits Egyptian clearance to dispatch hospital ship to Gaza
The Navy's hospital ship is currently docked in Jakarta and awaiting clearance from Egyptian authorities before it will be deployed on its humanitarian mission to Gaza, the naval chief has said.
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Kaharuddin Djenod (left), CEO of state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL, speaks to then-Navy chief of staff Adm. Yudo Margono (second left) on Aug. 15, 2022 in Surabaya, East Java, following the ceremonial handover of hospital ship KRI Dr Rajiman Wedyodiningrat-992. (Antara/Didik Suhartoni)
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avy Chief of Staff Adm. Muhammad Ali said Indonesia was awaiting the necessary clearance to sail Egyptian waters before sending hospital ship KRI Dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat-992 on its mission to Gaza, where it is to provide medical aid for victims of the Israel-Hamas war.
The ship is now docked in Jakarta and ready to depart on its humanitarian mission in Gaza.
Although Cairo’s clearance to cross Egyptian borders was yet to arrive, Ali said the hospital ship and its crew, including health workers, were now ready to sail. The ship also had the capacity to set up a field hospital near Gaza, pending permission from local authorities.
“We’re still waiting, but we’re geared up, the doctors are ready,” Ali said on Monday at the naval port in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, as quoted by Antara News.
Read also: Indonesia readies hospital ship for aid mission to Gaza
“The medical personnel are of course from the TNI [Indonesian Military], the Indonesian Navy. We are also opening opportunities for the Health Ministry if it wants to join [the mission], as well as volunteers, but [only] those who have health skills or specializations or are medical workers,” he added.
Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto first mentioned a plan earlier this month to establish a field hospital in the vicinity of Gaza.
