Standing by its promise, Indian Navy rushes to Indonesia with aid and relief materials

Jakarta, October 2: Indonesia has been affected by one of its worst natural calamity four days after the 7.4 magnitude earthquake triggered the Sulawesi claiming around 1,200 people. Standing true to its promise, the Indian Navy is rushing aid and relief material to the island. Indian Navy ships Tir, Sujata, and Shardul heading for the worst affected Palu city in Sulawesi.

 

The navy ships carried over 30,000 litres of bottled drinking water, 1500 litres of packaged juice, 500 litres of milk, 700 kg biscuits, 20 tents, and other Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) material to the Sulawesi island.

Days after the tragedy, aid is barely trickling in and people's patience is wearing thin as supplies of fresh water, food, and fuel have run out in the worst affected Palu and Donggala cities. Widespread looting has also been reported from across the island.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Indonesian President Joko Widodo on October 1, 2018, and offered assistance to the tsunami-hit country.

The Prime Minister offered his condolences on the loss of lives, a PMO statement said, adding that the PM appreciated the resilience and courage of the people of Indonesia in facing the challenges emanating from the widespread devastation due to the grave natural calamity.

Palu, the Indonesian city devastated by an earthquake, tsunamis and mudslides, has sought to build itself up as a major trading hub. But the city’s concrete and traditional-style buildings and other infrastructure were no match for the triple whammy that has left more than 1,200 people dead.

The disasters that struck late Friday left the city’s port in ruins, its lone gantry crane atilt in the water. Its airport terminal was a sea of shattered glass and broken ceiling panels.