The Airbus Foundation, the Indonesian Government and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) collaborated to send a humanitarian aid flight into Palu to help victims of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that devastated the Indonesian city.
A RMAF Airbus A400M, which flew into Jakarta’s Halim Air Base, delivered emergency relief supplies to the city.
The earthquake in late September was followed by a tsunami of up to six metres, which struck Palu and neighbouring Donggala. More than 1,400 people have died since, around 5,000 residents have been reported missing and over 200,000 people are in need of emergency assistance.
Emergency relief supplies and equipment carried on board the A400M included fuel trucks from Indonesian oil firm Pertamina and excavators from industrial products manufacturer PT Pindad.
The aircraft also carried food and drinks, clothes and medical supplies collected by the Indonesian Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises.
The Airbus Foundation – Airbus’ ‘vehicle for corporate philanthropy’ – has also supported the distribution of emergency supplies and is helping the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) by providing an H125 helicopter for 45 flight hours.
Plus, the Foundation is supporting Medecins Sans Frontières (MSF) by enabling the agency to contract an H155 operator who will be assisting relief efforts for a few weeks
Finally, images from Airbus satellites are being used to support the emergency relief effort.
“Everyone has seen the heart-breaking devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Palu, and our thoughts are with victims and their families who have lost so much,” said Andrea Debbane, executive director of the Airbus Foundation.
“This is the least that we can do together with our partners, who have provided much-needed logistical support and contributed a lot to this urgent call for help.”
