Liaise with Indonesian authorities, M’sian NGOs told
PALU CITY: The Malaysian mission in Indonesia has advised all Malaysian NGOs sending humanitarian aid to quake-hit Sulawesi to adhere to the instructions of the Indonesian authorities.
Malaysian Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia Zamshari Shaharan said the NGOs should coordinate their operations with the Indonesian authorities so that they can send the necessary aid to Palu.
“On Oct 1, we at the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta met with the Indonesian foreign ministry and military representatives over coordination in the sending of aid from outside Indonesia.
“The Indonesian authorities request foreign NGOs to abide by the regulations in force in the disaster areas,” Zamshari told Malaysian journalists here yesterday.
He said many Malaysian NGO representatives have arrived in Palu over the past few days to help out in the areas devastated by the earthquake and ensuing tsunami on Sept 28.
He also said the Royal Malaysian Air Foce (RMAF) has obtained the Indonesian authorities’ approval to bring essential goods and heavy machinery to Palu.
“We have been allowed to use the A400M and C130H aircraft of the RMAF for the missions in Palu City.
“The Indonesian authorities want us to help fly large loads such as five to 12-tonne oil tankers and foodstuff,” he said.
As of now, an RMAF A400M aircraft is the biggest military transport aircraft that has landed at the Mutiara SIS Al-Jufrie Airport on a humanitarian mission in Palu City. – Bernama