11-4-2024 (JAKARTA) The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU), in collaboration with the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF), conducted a humanitarian mission to airdrop aid from the Indonesian people to Gaza, Palestine, on Tuesday (April 9), as reported by Antara news agency.
Military Brigadier General Edwin Adrian Sumantha, head of the public relations bureau at the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, confirmed that 20 aid packages containing food, water, and medicine were airdropped during the operation.
Each aid package, weighing 160 kilograms, was transported by TNI AU’s C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft from King Abdullah II Air Base in Zarqa, Jordan, to the designated drop-off point in southern Gaza.
The aid was delivered using the low-cost low altitude (LCLA) method at 12:50 pm local time. The aircraft departed from King Abdullah II Air Base at 11:36 am local time and returned to the air base at 1:47 pm local time.
Commander of the aid delivery mission task force, Noto Casnoto, expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort between TNI and the Jordanian Air Force in a press release issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence.
The decision to provide direct aid to Gaza was initiated by Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo on March 8, 2024.
Following the president’s directive, Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto contacted Jordanian King Abdullah II by phone. Subsequently, the King designated the Jordanian Ambassador to Indonesia, Sudqi Al Omoush, to meet with Prabowo and extend an invitation to participate in the humanitarian aid operation to Gaza via air.
The aid delivery mission task force from TNI AU departed from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, on March 29.
Indonesia becomes the second Southeast Asian country, following Singapore, to conduct a direct aid drop to Gaza.
