Ministry of Foreign Affairs Together with Indonesian Representatives Successfully Evacuated Three Indonesian Nationals Stranded in Socotra, Yemen

Spokesperson II for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vahd Nabyl A Mulachela. (Rafly/Infomed/Kemlu RI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Indonesian representative in the Middle East managed to evacuate three Indonesian citizens (WNI) who were stranded on Sokotra Island, Yemen.

Spokesperson II of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela, said that his party, through coordination with the Indonesian Embassy in Muscat (Oman), the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), the Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah, as well as with the support of the Saudi and Yemeni authorities, managed to evacuate three Indonesian citizens who had been stranded on Socotra Island since the end of December due to limited access.

"The three Indonesian citizens were successfully flown from Socotra to Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for transit, today at around 14:30 WIB or 10:30 local time," Nabyl explained in a video statement, Friday (9/1).

"And the plan is to continue to Indonesia at 17:30 local time," continued Nabyl, adding that the three of them were in good condition.

Previously, three Indonesian citizens were reported to have been stranded on Socotra Island, Yemen, due to the escalation that occurred in the region.

Acting Director of Indonesian Citizen Protection at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heni Hamidah, said on Thursday, the Indonesian Embassy in Muscat had received information from the Indonesian Citizen Protection Task Force in Yemen, regarding the presence of three Indonesian citizens stranded in Socotra on January 3.

"They were trapped because the airspace of Yemen was closed by Saudi Arabia during the military attack on the Port of Mukalla, Yemen on December 30," explained Heni.

Furthermore, Heni explained, the three Indonesian citizens could not leave because there were no flights operating.

"They entered through a tour operator for the tour of Socotra based in the United Arab Emirates," he said.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appeals to all Indonesian citizens who will travel abroad to always pay attention to and follow the appeals regarding the conditions in the destination country, and continue to follow the development of the international situation, especially if the trip is made to a vulnerable and dangerous place," said Nabyl.