- VIVA/Sherly
VIVA – Garuda Indonesia flight GA 991 carrying 385 Indonesian people evacuated from Sudan arrived in Indonesia on Friday morning at around 5.46 am local time. The group consisted of 248 women and 137 men, 43 of whom were children.
"This is the first stage of arrival in Indonesia, who were evacuated from Sudan through Jeddah. Considering that the evacuees' journey is very long and tiring, upon arrival in Jakarta they will be temporarily lodged at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory before being returned to their respective regions," said Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, in a written statement, on Friday.
According to the minister, the relevant central and local governments have prepared several services for the evacuated Indonesians until their return to their respective regions.
"The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture and related ministries/agencies have prepared services ranging from health checks to counseling services. Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, and relevant local governments will facilitate the return to their respective regions," Minister Marsudi informed.
The government, she stated, will return the evacuated Indonesians from Sudan to their homeland in three stages. The second phase of repatriation will be carried out on April 29 and the third phase of repatriation while closing the entire evacuation process will be carried out on April 30.
Ratusan WNI yang dievakuasi dari Sudan diberangkatkan ke Indonesia dari Bandara Internasional King Abdul Aziz, Jeddah, Arab Saudi pada Kamis (27/4/2023).
- ANTARA/HO-KBRI Riyadh.
"As of now, there are only 111 Indonesian citizens who are still in Port City Sudan. Today, they will be flown to Jeddah by Air Force plane," she said.
Minister Retno Marsudi explained that the evacuation this time was carried out using a relay evacuation pattern, starting with road evacuation from Khartoum to Port Sudan, then from Port Sudan to Jeddah both by sea and by air, and then returning gradually to Indonesia.
"We carry out this evacuation pattern to respond to a very dynamic field situation and to immediately remove Indonesia from dangerous conflict areas. Alhamdulillah, this pattern runs smoothly and we even help some foreign nationals to participate in our evacuation," she said.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also expressed her gratitude that amidst various challenges and difficulties, the evacuation from Sudan this time could be carried out well and smoothly. This, the Minister continued, is inseparable from the support and cooperation of many parties.
She also said: "We express our gratitude and highest appreciation to the Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Home Affairs, BNPB, and related local governments."
"Our gratitude and appreciation also go to the Authorities and other parties in Sudan, the Government of Saudi Arabia, and the Indonesian Representatives in Khartoum, Riyadh, Jeddah, Cairo, and Adis Ababa," she added.
As information, in a press statement after a limited meeting on Thursday in Jakarta, the Foreign Minister said that the government had evacuated 897 Indonesian citizens from Khartoum City, Sudan. The evacuation was divided into two stages; the first stage of 569 people and the second stage of 328 people.
