MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – Responding to the recent conflict, the Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) has taken swift action by sending a five-member advance team to Egypt for an on-ground assessment of the situation in Gaza. Departing on Tuesday evening (January 23), the team is scheduled to carry out the mission for eleven days, from January 23 to February 2.
Dispatched by Chairman of Muhammadiyah Syafiq Mughni and Muhammadiyah Treasurer Hilman Latief, the team comprises four members of the Muhammadiyah Medical Team (EMT) and one member of the Muhammadiyah Department for the Zakat, Infaq, and Shadaqah Management (Lazismu). They are Naibul Umam, dr. Tri Yunanto Arliono, Wahyu Pristiawan, Huda Khairun Nahar, and Gunawan Hidayat.
The primary objectives of the team include gathering crucial data on the needs of the people in Gaza and evaluating the feasibility of establishing a field hospital in the region.
Budi Setiawan, Chair of MDMC, highlighted the initial focus on engaging with the Egyptian government to explore potential collaboration.
“Recognizing the challenges in delivering aid to Gaza, especially through the Rafah border crossing, we aim to initiate a relationship with the Egyptian government,” explained Setiawan.
The team safely arrived in Egypt on Wednesday afternoon (January 24). Their duties encompass assessing the immediate needs of Gaza’s population, evaluating the on-site conditions, and exploring avenues for cooperation with the Egyptian government.
Setiawan emphasized that the team’s efforts would contribute not only to aiding the people of Gaza but also to fostering collaboration between Muhammadiyah, the Indonesian government, and other Indonesian humanitarian organizations associated with Indonesia Humanitarian Alliance (IHA).
“We expect the team to gather comprehensive data and establish strong connections with the Egyptian government. Their safety is paramount, ensuring they return with information that will prove valuable for many,” Setiawan concluded.
