September 27, 2025 | 06:04 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia, provides US$12 million (Rp200.4 billion) in food aid to Gaza residents through the World Food Programme (WFP) in response to the food crisis and starvation in the region caused by the Israeli blockade.
This aid is part of the 10,000-ton rice commitment previously announced by Indonesia's president at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
"The joint decision of the Palestinian government and Indonesia to provide aid through the WFP was made to ensure rapid and precise distribution," said Foreign Minister Sugiono in New York on Friday, as quoted by Antara.
Sugiono explained that the delivery through WFP was chosen because the security situation in the field is deteriorating, while only a few international organizations have direct access to Gaza.
"This is the best choice considering the difficulty of aid access to Gaza, while the food needs there are very urgent," he said.
According to Sugiono, WFP has long been a partner of Indonesia in delivering aid to various countries. This aid was handed over to WFP on September 24, 2025, to support emergency response programs in Gaza.
"As stated by the President at the UN General Assembly, Indonesia is always ready to provide rice aid to Palestine," said Foreign Minister Sugiono.
He added that the delivery through WFP also ensures that Gaza residents receive healthy and quality ready-to-eat food.
However, delivering aid to Palestine presents logistical challenges, such as limited storage space, fuel, and clean water in Gaza.
"Indonesia's commitment to help Palestine has never wavered. This effort continues to be made through various available mechanisms and channels," emphasized Sugiono.
He added that this year, the government has also provided US$2 million (Rp33 billion) in aid through the International Red Cross for Palestine.
One in three children in Gaza have not eaten at all in the past 24 hours amid severe food shortages due to the Israeli blockade, according to the UNRWA.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) stated: "One in three young children went a full day without food in the past 24 hours, 70 percent of children are having trouble sleeping and nearly one in five are withdrawn or silent."
The IRC also noted that "Only 1 per cent of households in Gaza are considered food secure," while most families with toddlers report clear signs of malnutrition.
Since March 2, Israel has closed all crossings to Gaza, preventing the entry of food, medicines, and humanitarian aid, plunging the strip into starvation despite aid trucks piling up at its borders.
Israel occasionally permits limited aid to enter, but it does not even begin to meet the starving population's minimum needs. Furthermore, most trucks are looted by gangs, which, according to Gaza authorities, are protected by Israel.
On August 22, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Global Initiative declared a famine in Gaza City and warned that the disaster could spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September.
Israel has starved the Palestinian population as part of the genocide it has been waging against them for two years. Starvation in Gaza has led to the deaths of 442 Palestinians as part of a larger toll of 65,502 deaths and 167,376 injuries.
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