Antara, Jakarta – Ten medical workers from three branches of the Indonesian armed forces (TNI) have entered Rafah, Gaza Strip, Palestine, to treat refugees and victims of Israeli strikes at the field hospital operated by the Uni Arab Emirates.
The Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the Defense Ministry Secretariat, TNI Brigadier General Edwin Adrian Sumantha, explained that the TNI Medical Workers Task Force for Gaza arrived in the enclave on Saturday, September 7, 2024.
"The presence of TNI's medical workers for Gaza is the proof of Indonesia's commitment to support the humanitarian mission for Palestinians," Edwin said on Sunday.
At the UAE Field Hospital in Rafah, the Indonesian medical team began their activities with a morning report. After, the doctors would visit the patients, while the paramedics and nurses carried out their duties according to their respective fields.
"The wounded and those suffering from various diseases received good and complete health services so they could recover quickly," said Edwin.
The Indonesian government sent 25 medical workers from Jakarta to El Arish, Egypt, in the second week of August 2024. Adry Pasmawi, a doctor at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital, Jakarta, leads the group.
Of the 25 people, 10 were sent to Rafah, after a field review showed the situation was safe for Indonesian health workers. The team will serve for a maximum of a month in Rafah, then rotate with those currently serving on the UAE hospital ship at El Arish Port, Egypt.
On the floating hospital ship, 24 TNI medical workers help treat patients with UAE doctors. Of the 24 people, nine arrived in El Arish on Saturday, led by Dr. Leksmana.
The nine military medical workers are part of the military task force for the Medical Workers for Gaza. "UAE Hospitals in Palestine and El Arish, Egypt, have served 48,704 patients, including carrying out 1,780 operations," said Edwin.