REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian government has handed over US$1 million of its aid commitment of US$2 million for victims of typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, a senior minister has said.
"I have handed US$1 million or Rp11.8 billion in cash to the Philippine embassy in Jakarta," Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono said, after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to a consultation meeting of state institutes' leaders at the State Palace here on Wednesday.
Agung said aid in the form of goods worth US$1 million would be sent to the Philippines on Thursday (Nov 14) aboard three Hercules planes owned by the Indonesian Air Force.
"Three Air Force Hercules planes (will leave for the Philippines) tomorrow. They will carry blankets, generators, mineral water, water purifiers, medicines and instant foods in six batches. In total, the goods are valued at US$1 million," he said.
The aid was taken from the national reserves in the state budget, he added.
Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines last week and resulted in the death of 2,700 people and losses of between Rp93 trillion and Rp221 trillion.
The typhoon also left hundreds of thousands of people homeless.
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