Indonesian Defense Minister Clarifies Aceh Governor’s Pursuit of international Disaster Aid

Makassar, CNN Indonesia — indonesian Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin addressed steps taken by Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf, also known as Mualem, to seek international assistance in managing recent hydrometeorological disasters across three provinces.

mualem previously stated in late November that he would not obstruct international aid for disaster relief. He indicated that volunteers and logistical support were already arriving from Malaysia and requested assistance from Chinese experts in locating missing individuals.

According to Sjafrie, the assistance from China referenced by Mualem was a personal effort to aid in the search for victims still listed as missing or buried by landslide debris. He clarified that this was not official assistance from another country or foreign entities.

“Actually, what is meant is personal (assistance)…”