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Indonesia welcomes medical equipment, oxygen supplies from Singapore, Australia
Assistance from neighboring countries began trickling into Indonesia on Friday, as Singapore and Australia sent medical equipment and oxygen supplies, with more countries expected to deliver on their pledges,
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Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (right) delivers his remarks to the media at the handover ceremony of Singapore’s assistance to Indonesia at Paya Lebar Airbase, Singapore, on July 9, 2021. (Courtesy of /Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
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ssistance from neighboring countries began trickling into Indonesia on Friday, as Singapore and Australia sent medical equipment and oxygen supplies, with more countries expected to deliver on their pledges, the government announced.
As many as 200 ventilators, 256 empty oxygen cylinders and personal protective equipment from the Singapore government arrived on Friday, with a shipment of 1,000 ventilators from Australia expected to be received in Indonesia later in the day, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Other partners, including the United States, the Netherlands, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, China as well as international organizations have also pledged support in the form of vaccines, medicines and medical devices.
Read also: Indonesia accepts foreign aid amid struggle to contain virus
The UAE, for instance, is set to send 250,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine next week.
“Indonesia appreciates the offer of cooperation and support. Cooperation and collaboration are principles that the world continues to put forward so we can get out of this pandemic together,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
In addition to the aid, Indonesia also purchased 10,000 oxygen concentrators from Singapore, of which 30 arrived on Friday along with the assistance.
Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said the government would also purchase seven oxygen generators and 36,000 tons of oxygen for the next 30 days. These purchases will be sent via sea.
"So, it's not only aid, but also medical equipment purchased by the government," Luhut said in a statement.
The government’s purchases also came along with assistance sent by Singapore’s defense ministry for its Indonesian counterpart, which includes 756 oxygen cylinders, 600 oxygen concentrators, 220 ventilators and PPE.
Read also: COVID-19 tragedy exposes how broken Indonesian politics is
Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said Singapore was sending two Air Force C-130 aircraft to Paya Lebar Airbase to carry the supplies in response to Indonesia’s request.
He said that over the course of the pandemic, the two countries had helped each other, including when Indonesia supplied essential equipment for Singapore’s community care facilities last year.
“Now, at their point in need, we stand in solidarity with them. It is this kind of mutual support that represents the strength of our relationship – not just at the government-to-government level, but also at the people-to people-level,” he said.
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