MATASEMARANG.COM – Palang Merah Indonesia (Indonesia’s Red Cross) is considering sending medical aid to Iran following a request from Tehran, as concerns grow over limited healthcare capacity amid ongoing tensions.
Chairman Jusuf Kalla said the request was delivered by Iranian Ambassador to Indonesia Mohammad Boroujerdi during a meeting at the organization’s headquarters in South Jakarta on Wednesday.
“The current situation in Iran requires medical support, particularly due to limited hospital facilities and medicine supplies,” Kalla said, adding that assistance would be channeled through international humanitarian networks rather than directly by governments.
He said aid would be distributed via the Red Cross and Red Crescent network in neighboring countries, including Turkey, before being delivered to affected communities in Iran.
Kalla added that potential delivery routes include Pakistan or Turkiye to help accelerate the distribution process.
However, he noted that cost efficiency remains a key consideration in determining how the assistance will be provided.
Shipping medicines from Indonesia could prove more expensive than sourcing them closer to the destination, he said.
“It is better to procure medicines in nearby countries. Based on our experience, prices in Pakistan can be about half of those in Indonesia,” Kalla said as quoted Antara.
The Indonesian Red Cross, known as PMI, is currently assessing the scale of assistance required, including the types of medicines and medical equipment needed.
