Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a medal and an award to the Indonesian government at an official event 'the State Superior Sacrifice Medal Award Ceremony'.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian government has received a medal and an award from Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for its post-earthquake humanitarian mission in the country.

The award was given at the State Superior Sacrifice Medal Award Ceremony on April 25, 2023, which was attended by 90 foreign representatives in Turkiye and relevant stakeholders in the country.

The Order of Superior Sacrifice Medal award which was given to the Indonesian government is the highest award from the Turkiye government to the rescue services during natural disasters, according to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a written statement on Thursday.

"Turkiye has been present at difficult times for Indonesia, such as when a Tsunami hit in 2006, the earthquake in Palu district and during the Covid-19 pandemic by providing medical assistance and ventilators. Indonesia is proud to be present in Turkiye after the earthquake last February," Indonesian Ambassador to Turkiye Lalu Muhamad Iqbal said.

The ceremony was attended by a special staff member of Indonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure/Head of Operations for the Indonesian Humanitarian Mission in Turkiye, Brigadier General Lukmansyah, and Minister Counselor of the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara representing Ambassador Iqbal, Yudhi Ardian.

"On behalf of the Indonesian government, we express our deepest gratitude for the award medal from the government of Turkiye," Brigadier General Lukmansyah said after the ceremony.

The award was given to countries that involved in SAR teams and humanitarian missions following the M 7.8 and M 7.6 earthquakes which hit Kahramanmaras and Hatay on February 6, 2023.

The awarding at the Beştepe National Congress and Culture Center, Ankara, began with a speech from President Erdogan who expressed his appreciation to the SAR teams and foreign humanitarian missions for their services and supports after the earthquake.

President Erdogan also appreciated the sincerity of the SAR teams and foreign humanitarian missions that have sacrificed and continued to support Turkiye in the difficult times after the disaster.

The Indonesian government sent SAR and humanitarian mission teams to Turkiye in four stages after the earthquake, that helped construct a field hospital in Hassa, Hatay; distributed logistics, including tents, food, vaccines and tetanus serum; as well as helped rescue and evacuation missions.

Reporting by Indonesia Window