By Orhan Onur Gemici
PALU (AA) – Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak visited Indonesia's city of Palu, which was hit by an earthquake and a tsunami.
Albayrak, who is in Indonesia to participate in G20 meetings, visited the disaster-affected areas with representatives of the Turkish Red Crescent and the Turkish Emergency and Disaster Management Authority (AFAD).
Speaking to Anadolu Agency he said: “We believe Indonesia and its people will come out from this crisis even stronger. We are also here to show our solidarity both materially and spiritually. Turkey is with them in prayers too. ”
The Turkish Red Crescent also distributed basic necessity packages to the victims.
Albayrak noted that Turkey had a history of helping people in danger regardless of language, religion or race.
“Our country is among the first nations to lend a helping hand to Indonesia, AFAD, Turkish Red Crescent, IHH and all of our humanitarian organizations reached here quickly. Indonesia and Turkey are friendly countries […], ” he added.
Albayrak is the first foreign representative to visit Indonesia after the disaster.
On Sept. 28, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Sulawesi Island, which triggered a tsunami in the cities of Donggala and Palu, which towered up to 10 feet (3 meters) high.
The death toll has climbed to 2,045.
