REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The German ambassador designate to Indonesia, Peter Schoof, led a moment of silence for victims and those who are affected by earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi. It was done at the reception of German Unity Day.
"Allow me to offer condolences to the family of the victims, and to respect those who are affected with the disaster with a moment of silence," Ambassador Schoof noted in his opening remarks on the German Unity Day here on Wednesday night.
Together with the European Union, Germany contributed on the humanity aid of 1.5 million euro for immediate response and relief after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit Palu city and Donggala district of Central Sulawesi on Sept 28.
"It supposed to go for medical facilities, to go to German Red Cross, Indonesian Red Cross, and we also communicate with your government today, that in principal, we are ready to do more," he said.
Also read: First international aid arrives in Palu
Schoof added that a team of German disaster mitigation team, which among other are experienced in search and rescue, shelter building, water purification, and forensic, is ready to come to the disaster area in Central Sulawesi soon when the Indonesian authority requested it. Such a request-based assistance was considered more effective as it would provide what people really need and more importantly, inline with the Indonesian team's coordination.
"I think it is a very difficult job for the Indonesian government to coordinate all of the pouring aids, but in principal, we are ready if we are asked. When we have heard that we are needed, we will be here within a day," Schoof noted.
The German Unity Day's commemoration in Jakarta was attended by Indonesia's Head of Investment Coordinating Board Thomas Lembong, who highlighted achievement of Germany and Indonesia's bilateral cooperation in various fields. He also impressed the guests by his fluent German in the beginning of his remarks.
Earlier, on Sept 28 afternoon local time, a 7.4-magnitude quake shook Palu and triggered tsunami along the coast of Donggala. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) mentioned that so far, the death toll was 1,407, while 2,549 people suffered serious injuries.
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