Indonesian and Sri Lankan missions open tsunami relief camp

Staff Report

KARACHI: The consulates general of Indonesia and Sri Lanka on Friday opened a relief camp for the victims of tsunamis which devastated the two countries.

The camp is at the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST).

“Over 80,000 people have died and over 100,000 houses destroyed only in Indonesia due to tsunami tidal waves,” Hikmat Moelijawan, the consul general of Indonesia in Karachi, said during the inauguration of the camp.

“We Indonesians are looking towards our Pakistani brothers and expect generous donations,” he said.

He said Indonesia’s electricity, communication, sanitation and transportation systems had been severely damaged and the country needed help to reconstruct the calamity-hit areas.

“Our people need a mass relief programme for rehabilitation and it could only be possible through help and assistance from the international community,” he said.

Pakistan to send medical teams to Indonesia, Sri Lanka: A team of doctors and engineers from the army will be sent to Indonesia for participation in relief work on the directions from Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

A C-130 aircraft carrying the team and relief goods consisting of medicines, food, tents, and blankets will fly to Indonesia. Pakistan will also send two Pakistan Navy ships to Sri Lanka to join in relief efforts.

Pakistan has already sent two C-130 aircraft carrying relief goods to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Two Pakistan Navy ships PNS Tariq and PNS Nasar are already in Maldives.

Pakistan has set up a relief fund to raise money for tsunami victims. app

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