JAKARTA — Dompet Dhuafa’s disaster response to the massive earthquake that hit Turkiye-Syria on February 6, 2023, has been ongoing since the beginning of the disaster. Dompet Dhuafa directly communicated with the authorities and NGOs in Turkey to distribute food aid and logistics. In addition, three days after the disaster, precisely on Thursday (9/2/2023), Dompet Dhuafa also dispatched its best volunteers.
It is known that the epicentre was in Gaziantep Province, Turkiye, a region bordering Syria. This also made five provinces in Syria severely affected by the earthquake. According to information from the Indonesian Embassy in Damascus in Syria, as of Wednesday (15/2/2023), the number of casualties in Syria has reached 1,414 and the injured are 2,357.
For this reason, Dompet Dhuafa held an audience with the Indonesian Embassy in Damascus-Syria and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) regarding response efforts to earthquake survivors in Syria online on Thursday (16/2/2023). This audience was attended directly by the Indonesian Ambassador to Damascus-Syria, Wajid Fauzi, Director of Social Services, Da’wah, and Culture of Dompet Dhuafa, Ustaz Ahmad Shonhaji, Director of Communication and Technology of Dompet Dhuafa, Prima Hadi Putra, Middle East Director of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bagus Hendraning Kobarsyih and other Dompet Dhuafa board members.
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According to Ustaz Shonhaji, this audience activity is significant for Dompet Dhuafa as a humanitarian agency that wants to help earthquake survivors in Syria. For this reason, this action needs to involve collaboration between Dompet Dhuafa and international political stakeholders, namely the Indonesian Embassy in Damascus and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Because, one of the obstacles in the country is the geopolitical aspect.
“We need to get views and directions from the Indonesian Embassy in Damascus-Syria (about) what is the best thing that can be done so that it can contribute to Syrian earthquake survivors. Together as a form of empathy and sympathy for us Indonesians who mandate their donations through Dompet Dhuafa. If we can get there later, then what can be done, then what is the location of the field and security,” said Ustaz Shonhaji, asking for directions from the Indonesian Ambassador to Syria.
Alhamdulillah, the Indonesian Ambassador to Syria, Wajid Fauzi explained that no casualties had been found so far based on the distribution of Indonesian citizen maps in Syria. However, what is currently urgently needed is assistance from Indonesian citizens to Syria. The Indonesian Embassy is also on the move while waiting for the collection of assistance from the Indonesian people.
“Yesterday, our aid was collected by two trucks and they have begun to be able to represent us to help the Latakia and Aleppo regions. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of assistance from Indonesia,” said Wajid Fauzi.
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On this occasion, the Indonesian Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also proposed several important assistance needed by earthquake survivors in Syria. Among these are medicines, fast food, warm clothes, and it can also be some Trauma Healing Equipment.
“The aid to Syria has been agreed to be rolled out through the BNPB, the Syrian Government conveys to the Ambassador of Damascus about the needs they need, namely medicines, fast food and warm clothing. Then the challenge is that there is a conflict, so the money transfer cannot be possible. The government has also not been able to monitor the northern region of Syria, due to geopolitical affairs,” said the Middle East Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bagus Hendraning Kobarsyih.
Furthermore, Prima Hadi Putra, Director of Communication and Technology of Dompet Dhuafa asked specific questions regarding when precisely the Dompet Dhuafa team could leave for Syria to provide assistance.
“Two days ago the government shut down the search for victims and is now providing shelter comfort for survivors for the next three months, to meet their needs in tents. Then after three months the reconstruction phase. The times can probably be seen based on this,” explained Wajid Fauzi, answering Putra’s question.
“We are waiting for Dompet Dhuafa’s plan to be realized with full coordination so that we can appear as one compact Indonesia, and be efficient in the organization,” continued Wajid Fauzi.
Closing this hearing, Ustaz Shonhaji also explained the hope of the meeting, namely that it will be a bright spot that can be used as a joint contribution to the community and donors to give confidence in providing aid to Syria. (Dompet Dhuafa/Awalia R)
In keeping with Dompet Dhuafa’s initiatives in assisting earthquake survivors in Turkey-Syria, My Friend may also aid our Turkish-Syrian brothers and sisters. You accomplish this by donating to victims of the Turkish-Syrian earthquake via the following page: