Foreign Minister Reveals Reasons For Gradually Evacuating Indonesian Citizens From Sudan

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi revealed that currently the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum has evacuated 538 Indonesian citizens (WNI) to the city of Port Sudan and will be dispatched to Jeddah. Retno explained that initially the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum planned to evacuate all Indonesian citizens by utilizing the ceasefire. "However, because of the fuel restrictions for buses that will transport Indonesian citizens and other evacuations, the evacuation cannot be carried out in one stage," said Retno media, Monday, April 24. He added that currently there are 289 other Indonesian citizens, most of whom are students and five company workers, will be evacuated in the second stage at the first opportunity. "For this reason, I urge every Indonesian citizen who is still in Sudan and has not reported themselves, please immediately report their whereabouts to the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum so that evacuation can also be carried out in the second stage," he explained, in the evacuation of stage 1 of the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum evacuating 538 Indonesian citizens consisting of 273 women, 240 men and 25 toddlers. Evacuation was carried out using buses as many as 8 pieces and 1 mini bus of the Indonesian Embassy and departed from Khartoum on Sunday 23 April at 08.00 local time or at 13.00 WIB.

The travel time for Khartoum - Port Sudan land travel takes about 15 hours or about 830 KM through the cities of Atbara, Damir, Mismar and Sawakin City. There are about 15 checkpoints throughout the journey. Currently, 538 Indonesian citizens are resting at a residence in Port Sudan before departure to Jeddah by sea. God willing, preparations for returning to Indonesia will also continue," concluded Retno.