Conflict In Sudan Kian Heats Up: 300 People Died, Indonesian Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Continues To Effort To Evacuate Indonesian Citizens

Some of the Indonesian citizens in Sudan who were successfully evacuated to the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum on Tuesday 18 April 2023. (Between/KBRI Khartoum)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, shared the latest developments on the armed conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Military or the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Force (RSF) which has entered its 6th day, since Saturday, April 15, 2023.

Retno said that until now, the situation in Sudan has not improved and has even tended to be escalated.

"Based on WHO data, the death toll has reached 300 people and the injured have reached more than 3,000 people," he said in a press statement, Thursday, April 20.

He added that several ceasefire efforts had not yielded results so that his party had difficulty providing humanitarian assistance, food distribution and hospital operations.

This fighting, he continued, targeted and fought for vital objects such as the Presidential Palace, the Khartoum Military Command Headquarters and International Airport. In addition, the battle point also occurred at the RFS Headquarters, one of which is located near the African International University, where many Indonesian citizens live.

"As soon as a military conflict occurs, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement of concern and a call for a peaceful settlement and stressed that the safety of civilians must continue to be a priority," continued Retno.

Retno said that until now her party had made various efforts to evacuate Indonesian citizens (WNI) in Sudan, which currently number 1209 and most of them are students and students.

"The Indonesian Citizen Protection Team from the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum has so far succeeded in evacuating 43 Indonesian citizens trapped in the location of the battle to a safe house at the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum," he said.

He continued that currently evacuation preparations continue to be finalized while waiting for the right time to be able to evacuate by continuing to consider the safety of Indonesian citizens.

"Once again I want to underline that safety is a top priority," added Retno.

While preparing for the evacuation, Retno said that his party also continues to try to communicate with the Sudanese Foreign Minister in order to get the protection of Indonesian citizens to the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"I have also sent a message to Sudanese Foreign Minister asking for a telephone conversation. But so far this has not been responded to," concluded Retno.