Lebanese delegation heads to Indonesia to follow up on the case of the Indonesian boat disaster

 
A Lebanese delegation is expected to leave Lebanon on Wednesday noon towards Indonesia to follow up on the case of the Indonesian boat disaster.              

The delegation is comprised of caretaker State Minister Ahmad Karameh, the head of Lebanon's Higher Relief Committee (HRC) Brigadier General Ibrahim Bashir, Consul Maher Kheir from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Professor Fouad Ayoub a specialist in DNA tests, and other members from the HRC.                                   

Brigadier General Bashir noted that the delegation is tasked with following up on legal procedures and comparing DNA tests performed at the Saint Joseph University with tests performed in Indonesia in order to identify the identities of the victims and transport them to Lebanon.               

Brigadier General Bashir added that the delegation is expected to finish its duties within 3 days and will be returning to Lebanon on Monday.              

Dozens of Lebanese nationals hailing from the town of Akkar were reported dead on Friday, September 26 after a boat carrying them to Australia sank off the coast of Indonesia.                
Preliminary information showed that an Iraqi national known as Abou Salah was in charge of transferring the persons to Indonesia before reaching Australia.                

The boat, believed to be carrying about 100 people, capsized off West Java's Sukabumi district after being hit by high waves.             

The boat, carrying asylum seekers from Lebanon, Pakistan and Iraq, was headed for Australia's Christmas Island.