How To Get Indonesian Citizens Evacuated From The Corona Virus In China

Passengers at Soekarno-Hatta airport wear masks. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - A number of parties have encouraged the government to evacuate Indonesian citizens (WNI) from cities in China who have contracted the corona virus and return to Indonesia.

It is known, as many as 243 Indonesian citizens, both workers and students, are in six areas that are quarantined due to corona virus transmission. The six cities are Wuhan, Xianing, Xuangxi, Jingzu, Xianyang, and Xian.

Acting Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Teuku Faizasyah admitted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health had discussed options for evacuating Indonesian citizens in a video conference with representatives of the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in China.

In fact, several countries such as the United States, Australia and France have also conveyed their wish to evacuate their citizens to the Chinese government. However, until now the Chinese government has not allowed a possible evacuation.

"All (the desire to evacuate) from us and those countries depends on the extent to which the PRC (People's Republic of China) government can provide considerations and suggestions for the evacuation action. Whether it can be evacuated directly back to the country of origin, or transferred to other parts of China. , "said Faizasyah at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building, Central Jakarta, Monday, January 27.

Until now, the Chinese government is still isolating a number of cities that have contracted the corona virus. Faizasyah said, what the Indonesian government could do at this time was only to carry out technical readiness if China had given permission to evacuate.

"When the opportunity is opened for evacuation and conditions in the field are possible, evacuation can either be moved to areas that are not exposed or can return to Indonesia. However, everything returns to confirmation from the Chinese side that the evacuation can be carried out," he explained.

Faizasyah emphasized that until now not a single Indonesian citizen was indicated to have the Corona virus disease. While waiting for further confirmation from China, the government ensures that Indonesian citizens can still receive intensive health attention. Other people were asked to help lift the mentality of Indonesian citizens in China so they would not be too worried about their safety.

Meanwhile, to meet the limited logistical needs or basic needs of Indonesian citizens, the Indonesian Embassy has prepared assistance with a series of licensing processes from the Chinese government.

"Now, they are in good condition and can still receive logistical supplies from local markets and shops. Logistics has been prepared by the Indonesian Embassy, but the local government still needs to discuss it further. We can imagine, in isolation, it is not easy for outsiders to enter logistics," explained Faizasyah.