The TNI sent a number of soldiers from the elite troops of the Indonesian Air Force's Quick Action Forces Command (Kopasgat) to ensure the safety of Indonesian citizens (WNI) when they were evacuated from Sudan to be repatriated to the country.
Around 15 TNI soldiers from Kopasgat are members of the Indonesian Citizen Evacuation Team in Sudan, with a total of 39 people.
"Therefore (the conflict in Sudan) fellow military and paramilitary is very large in potential (threat to safety), but yesterday there was a humanitarian pause, in other words a ceasefire to provide space for foreigners (foreign nationals in Sudan) to be evacuated. Yesterday there was information, during the break there was another attack, that's why we sent a Kopasgat team to secure the airport where the evacuation took place," said TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono in response to Antara's question after the evacuation team's departure meeting at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, Monday.
Despite the potential security threats during the evacuation process, the Commander said that the TNI had no plans to add troops, especially for TNI soldiers who are currently serving with the UN Peace Forces in countries around Sudan.
"Meanwhile, we haven't. We don't want to interfere in their domestic affairs, unless they are really threatened by Indonesian citizens. Later there will be further orders. We will also monitor this (evacuation) activity," said Admiral Yudo.
Therefore, the Indonesian citizen evacuation team dispatched by the TNI to Sudan not only consisted of Indonesian Air Force and Kopasgat pilots, but also from BAIS TNI, then Puspen TNI. The evacuation team, led by Aviation Colonel Noto Casnoto, was also filled by doctors from the TNI to anticipate Indonesian citizens who were sick during the evacuation.
The Indonesian evacuation team is scheduled to depart for Sudan on Tuesday (25/4) morning aboard the Indonesian Air Force Boeing A-7305 type 737-400. The Commander said the plane could carry 100 people for one flight.
In Sudan, the evacuation team focused on transporting Indonesian citizens who had gathered in Port Sudan, a port city located in eastern Sudan. From that point, they will be transported to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Admiral Yudo explained that the evacuation point was focused on Port Sudan, because flights from that place to Jeddah were 45 minutes away, while from the capital Sudan, Khartoum, for 1.5 hours.
"The flight from Port Sudan to Jeddah is 45 minutes, while from Khartoum is about 1.5 hours, so we take it first which can be transported faster," said Admiral Yudo.
So far, the evacuation team from the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum in Sudan and a team from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have transported Indonesian citizens in several cities in Sudan to be collected in Port Sudan and Khartoum using land routes.
"The 45-minute journey can be completed a day (evacuation) if the situation is safe, of course, the situation is supportive. If 45 minutes back and forth 2' 3 times can be done," said the TNI Commander.
There are at least 291 Indonesian citizens who will be evacuated by the TNI evacuation team. The Commander said that they prioritized Indonesian citizens who were pregnant, sick, elderly, and children.
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