Indonesia Still Negotiates with Egypt to Build Field Hospital for Gazans
- ANTARA/HO-MER-C/pri.
Egypt – The Indonesian government is in the midst of a negotiation process with the Egyptian government to build a field hospital for Palestinians who had taken refuge in Egypt, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto stated.
After attending the send-off ceremony of KRI dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat-992 to El Arish, Egypt, the minister stated that negotiations were not easy due to the ongoing war situation.
"Now, we are negotiating to build a field hospital. The negotiation requires the presence of all parties," the President stated on Thursday, as quoted from Antara site.
According to Minister Subianto, the Indonesian government understands the difficulties in building the field hospital due to the pressure during the Israeli aggression in Gaza.
Rumah Sakit Indonesia di Gaza Utara
- Mer-C
However, the Minister emphasized that the Palestinian people in Gaza should not be expelled from their land.
Minister Subianto first highlighted Indonesia's plan to build a field hospital on December 1, 2023, at the Atang Sendjaja Air Base, Bogor, West Java.
"There have been suggestions from several parties in Egypt regarding the possibility to build a field hospital for the people of Palestine," he stated.
Regarding this plan, Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff, Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali, stated that the KRI dr. Radjiman was able to build a field hospital in refugee enclaves, including in the El Arish area that directly borders Rafah in Gaza.
However, Indonesia will only be able to deliver aid to El Arish when the ship will arrive in the next 15 days, the Minister remarked.
Assistance brought by the ship comprises 532 sacks of Pampers, 600 sacks of children's clothing, 700 sacks and 500 boxes of adult clothing, 800 cartons of milk, 650 boxes of biscuits, 1,254 gallons and 1,700 boxes of mineral water, 460 boxes of medicines, 450 sacks of blankets, 450 sacks of jackets, and 470 boxes of instant noodles.
The aid delivery is part of the humanitarian assistance mission to Egypt led by Task Force Commander Commodore Bimo Aji.
Commodore Aji supervises more than 200 ship crew, of which 40 are the Indonesian Navy special forces.
