Was Isolated, Students From Ponorogo Grateful To Be Able To Leave Sudan

Husnul Ma'arif, an Indonesian student from Ponorogo in Sudan who was successfully evacuated and now lives with him in Ponorogo, Thursday. (4/5/2023) (ANTARA)

PONOROGO - A master's student from Ponorogo Regency, East Java, admitted that he was grateful to be able to get out of the civil war sub-district in Sudan.

"Alhamdulillah. We are very lucky to be able to get out of (the country) of Sudan which is experiencing a civil war," said Husnul Ma'arif, one of the Indonesian students from Ponorogo in Sudan who was successfully evacuated, in Ponorogo, quoted by ANTARA Thursday, May 4.

Husnul, who is currently in the middle of his family in Ponorogo, said that he managed to return to Indonesia after previously being isolated in boarding houses, he temporarily lived in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.

This Khartoum is said to have been the center of the scam since the first outbreak of civil war on April 15, 2023 in the African continent.

"I was able to get out of Sudan on April 28 and was taken to Saudi (Arabia) by ship, then continued to fly to Indonesia, and came two days ago," he said.

Husnul said that at the university where he continued his postgraduate studies, namely in the Al-Qur'an Nulkharim, he often heard the sound of gunfire.

Even the intensity of gunfire is getting more frequent because in the place of seeking knowledge it is close to a paramilitary base or a rebel team.

"The atmosphere is arguably tense because all access is closed, especially at the airport which is used as a battlefield," said Husnul.

The students of S2 Syariah Sciences and Fiqih's proposal had difficulty getting logistics because at the time of the incident there were many lootings which caused a number of necessities to experience scarcity.

"Alhamdulillah, we received assistance from the Indonesian Embassy through the Indonesian Student Association (PPI) in Sudan, but all the limitations," he explained.

Husnul said there were 1,209 Indonesians in Sudan. Currently, almost all of them have been successfully returned to Indonesia. Although there are a number of Indonesian citizens who are reluctant to be evacuated because they are still in a more conducive place.

"There are some who are reluctant to be evacuated because the place is still conducive," explained Husnul.

He could not confirm when he would return to Sudan. Husnul prefers to wait for official news from the government and the Indonesian Embassy in Sudan, although he is currently waiting for the graduation process to be carried out in August 2023.