Your Worship Jim Watson,

President of the Human Concern International,

Esteemed Members of the Canadian-Indonesian Congress,

Ambassador Faizasyah,

Dear Guests,

We have learned with deep sorrow that the earthquake and tsunami on Indonesian island of Sulawesi caused loss of many lives, injuries and extensive damage. We extend our heartfelt

condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives as well as to the people of Indonesia and wish speedy recovery to the injured. We are again saddened by the floods occured today.

Turkey is in full solidarity with the Government and the brotherly people of Indonesia and, like in the great tsunami in the past, ready to provide any assistance that may be needed.

As a country struck by disasters in the past and hosting almost 4 million Syrian and Iraqi refugees today, Turkey’s traditional humanitarian assistance policy will continue in every where possible.

Within the context of this policy, we are again extending a helping hand to our friends. A week ago 2 military C-130 cargo planes have landed to Palubringing and extended humanitarian assistance (1.000 sleeping bags and 250 tents). 3 Turkish Red Crescent and 2 AFAD (Turkish Disaster Management and Emergency Authority) teams have arrived with the cargo planes.

Religious Foundation of Turkey (Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı) also provided food and cleaning material to the people of Limpoa to 1.040 families that could suffice one month. They have arrived there only 4 days after the earthquake.

At the moment, there are totally 9 Turkish humanitarian personnel on the ground from these two official organisations.

In addition, Turkish NGOs are also active on the ground in distributing various humanitarian assistance items in the affected areas.

Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister H. E. Berat Albayrak visited the disaster-affected areas in Palu with representatives of the Turkish Red Crescent and the Turkish Emergency and Disaster Management Authority (AFAD) 6 days ago. While showing our solidarity, H.E. Albayrak has become the first foreign representative to visit Indonesia after the disaster.

We will continue our support to Indonesia. I also thank His Worship Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa, Human Concern International, who is also helping a lot of Syrian refugees in Turkey, and the Canadian-Indonesian Congress for their generous support to Indonesia.

Thank you.