Conflict In Sudan, Indonesian Embassy Successfully Evacuated 43 Indonesian Citizens To Safehouse

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi revealed the development and condition of Indonesian citizens (WNI) who currently reside in Sudan. Retno revealed that to this day the KBRI Khartoum protection team has evacuated 43 Indonesian citizens trapped at the location of the conflict to a safe house located at the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum. "The protection team has succeeded in evacuating 43 Indonesian citizens trapped at the location to a safe house at the Indonesian Embassy. 43 Indonesian citizens are currently at the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum. The current security status is on alert 1," he said in Press Briefing, Thursday, April 20. Retno added that his party had also distributed logistical assistance to Indonesian citizens affected by fighting in SUdan, the majority of whom were students and migrant workers. "Our efforts to distribute aid also experienced challenges because the fighting between the warring parties was still ongoing and several times the guesthouses belonging to Indonesia and the Indonesian Embassy were affected and Alhamdulillah the Indonesian citizens and the staff were safe," continued Retno. On the same occasion he also appealed to Indonesian citizens who are currently in Sudan and the Indonesian families who are currently in Indonesia to remain calm as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeks to provide maximum protection to Indonesian citizens in Sudan. It should be known, currently the number of Indonesian citizens who are in Sudan is 1209 people. Since the conflict broke out on April 16, continued Retno, the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum continues to make contact through virtual meetings with Indonesian citizens and various Indonesian community organizations in Sudan in order to provide updates on the security situation and explain the contingency steps. "The evacuation preparation continues while waiting for the right time to be able to carry out the evacuation by continuing to consider the safety of Indonesian citizens. Once again I want a lower line that safety is a top priority," said Retno.

He added, based on his communication with the Indonesian Ambassador in Khartoum, it is known that until now there has been no evacuation of foreigners from Khartoum. "So no evacuation has been carried out, or no one has succeeded in evacuating his citizens from Khartoum, because once again security conditions are not possible," continued Retno.