Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar highlighted that Indonesia has been known as the most generous country in the world during his speech for a charity event in Jakarta on Friday.
"It is true that Indonesia is known as the world's most easily touched and moved country in the event of humanitarian problems," he remarked at Southeast Asia's largest mosque of Istiqlal.
Umar's statement refers to the World Giving Index 2023 issued by the United Kingdom-based Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), which placed Indonesia at the top of the list of the world's most generous countries.
The ranking was the result of a survey conducted by the CAF on 147,186 respondents from 142 countries in 2022.
It should be noted that Indonesia has remained at the top of the list in six consecutive editions of the index.
Bearing that in mind, the minister, also serving as the grand imam of Istiqlal Mosque, called on the Indonesian people to continue to promote respect for the values of humanity regardless of religion, ethnicity, and gender.
"We are gathering here today without considering our religions, ethnicity, and genders. Let us all unite to promote humanity," he told the audience.
In his speech, Umar also lauded PT Tempo Scan Pacific for donating humanitarian aid valued at Rp10 billion (US$628.2 thousand) dedicated to infants and children affected by Israel's aggression in Palestine through the National Alms Agency (Baznas) of Indonesia.
"Today, we will donate a portion of what we have. Perhaps the donations mean less for us, but they mean a lot to Palestinian people currently facing hardships," he stated.
The minister expressed belief that Indonesia genuinely empathizes with Palestinian people, sharing the ordeal they experience.
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Translator: Farhan Arda, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
