The Jakarta Post | Tue, 12/30/2008 9:03 PM
The Indonesian government plans to increase its spending on drug supplies for Palestinians in Gaza, from an initial Rp 2 billion (US$184,000) to Rp 10 billion.
The scale of the impacts of the Israeli strikes was beyond initial estimates, Health Ministry Crisis Management Center head Rustam Pakaya told Antara newswire on Tuesday.
Rustam said, during a meeting with Palestinian officials on Monday he had learned that more than 300 people had been killed and 1,300 people had been hospitalized, 800 of whom were in a critical condition.
After speaking to Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Fariz Mehdawi, Rustam said Palestine required qualified anesthetists, medical equipment, medicine, food and tents.
With only three hospitals in operation in the area, it was harder for Palestinians to cope with the attacks, he said.
The government would soon send Rp 300 million worth of locally produced medicines and would disburse Rp 10 billion to buy more drugs in Egypt, Rustam said.
Earlier on Monday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had written a letter to the UN secretary-general and the UN Security Council president condemning the Israeli attacks.
Yudhoyono said the attacks were disproportionate and that the Security Council must hold a formal meeting to issue a resolution to force Israel to stop its offensive.
Yudhoyono also pledged a total of $1 million in cash aid and another $2 million in medical supplies. (and)
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