Indonesia not sending SAR personnel to Syria

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia decided on security grounds to not send search and rescue (SAR) personnel to Syria to assist in the evacuation of victims of the February-6 earthquake that rattled the northern part of the country.

"As the Syrian government could not ensure security conditions in areas affected by the earthquake in the country, we decided not to send any person, and we only (send) supplies and equipment," National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Head Suharyanto stated here, Tuesday.

Suharyanto made the statements before his departure to send humanitarian assistance for Turkey and Syria at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, East Jakarta.

He remarked that humanitarian assistance provided for Syria would be the same as that for Turkey and comprise quilts, tents, instant foods, sleeping bags, electric generators, hygiene kits, warm clothing, mattresses, and Islamic burial shrouds.

"The total weight is more than 140 tons, and it will be divided into two, with the first 78 tons going for Turkey, and the rest is for Syria," the BNPB head revealed.

Meanwhile, he said that Indonesia has sent SAR and health personnel to Turkey, and the Indonesian SAR team dispatched to the country comprised 50 personnel and three sniffer dogs.

The BNPB head stated that Turkey would be prioritized, as it was affected to a greater extent by the earthquake as compared to Syria.

The February-6 earthquake killed more than 40 thousand people in Turkey and over six thousand people in Syria.

"Hence, Turkey is our priority, and (the Indonesian government) also dispatched SAR and health personnel teams there," he stated.

The agency head remarked that his departure for Turkey and Syria, along with Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy, also aims to repatriate 85 Indonesian nationals in Turkey and two coffins of Indonesians killed in the earthquake.