Provincial Government Returns 2 More Acehnese From Ukraine

JAKARTA - The Aceh government has returned to repatriate two more Acehnese from Ukraine, namely Sandi Putra Kelana and Muhammad Fata Abi Muntaho, after undergoing a period of quarantine in Jakarta.

"Like the previous Acehnese student who was repatriated from Ukraine, Arif Fazilla, we also carried out surveillance of the two while in Jakarta," said Head of the Aceh Government Liaison Agency (BPPA) Almuniza Kamal in a written statement quoted by Antara, Thursday, March 24.

Sandi is a resident of Paya Bujok Seuleumak, Langsa Baro District, Langsa City, while and Fata from Serba Jadi Village, Darul Makmur District, Nagan Raya Regency. Both are lecturers at ICCI (Islamic Center Cultural International) in Ukraine.

They were repatriated by Batik Air plane through Soekarno Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Thursday, March 24.

Upon arrival at Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport, Aceh Besar, the Aceh Social Service will immediately be picked up and sent back to their respective hometowns.

Almuniza explained that the two Acehnese who taught at an Islamic school in Ukraine should have been sent home last week. However, Muhammad Fata had to undergo quarantine for a week at Wisma Atlet Pademangan because he had only been vaccinated once.

"While Sandi only underwent quarantine for one day, because he had been vaccinated twice. So they agreed to be sent home together," he said.

The repatriation of the two from Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion was a direct direction from the Governor of Aceh Nova Iriansyah to assist and facilitate them before being repatriated to Aceh.

"Because they are the future and the glory of Aceh later. So the Aceh government continues to monitor the progress of them," said Almuniza.

Previously, an Acehnese student studying medicine in Ukraine, Arif Fazilla, had already been sent home from Jakarta to Aceh, last Wednesday (16/3).

Muhammad Fata, who has only been in Ukraine for about six months to teach at an Islamic school or the equivalent of a Junior High School (SMP) there is grateful for having arrived safely to the country.

"Alhamdulillah, we are happy to be able to return to Indonesia, this is also thanks to the support from the Indonesian Embassy there who evacuated us Indonesian citizens," said Fata.

Before being repatriated to Indonesia, both of them were evacuated to Poland from Ukraine by the Indonesian Embassy there along with other Indonesian citizens (WNI), until finally they were returned to Indonesia by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) through the embassy in Ukraine.