Evacuation Of The First Stage Of 542 Indonesian Citizens From Sudan Runs Successfully

Hundreds of Indonesian citizens traveled by land from the capital Khartoum to Port Sudan, to be evacuated to Indonesia via Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday (23/4/2023). (Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The government succeeded in evacuating 542 Indonesian citizens (WNI) in the first phase of the evacuation from Sudan, which has been hit by military conflicts since April 15.

"A total of 542 Indonesian citizens are on their way from Port Sudan to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia," said Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens and BHI of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha via text message, Tuesday.

He said Jeddah would be a shelter for Indonesian citizens who were evacuated from Sudan before they were flown to the country.

The number of Indonesian citizens evacuated in the first phase is known to have increased from 538 people, according to the figure announced by the Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on Monday (24/4), to 542 people.

Judha menjelaskan bahwa tambahan angka tersebut adalah mahasiswa Indonesia yang bergabung dengan tim KBRI Khartoum dan WNI evakuasi lainnya di Port Sudan melalui jalur lain.

"Meanwhile, the second phase of evacuation is being carried out from Khartoum to Port Sudan," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, April 25.

The rescue of Indonesian citizens from Sudan called Foreign Minister Retno was not easy, because it was carried out in the midst of the ongoing fighting between the Sudanese military (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Given that the situation on the ground has changed very quickly and there are fuel restrictions for vehicles carrying foreign nationals who have been evacuated, Indonesia cannot evacuate all Indonesian citizens in one road.

In the second phase of the evacuation, the government plans to evacuate 298 Indonesian citizens, although the number may increase after the Indonesian Foreign Minister appealed to other Indonesian citizens to immediately report themselves to the Indonesian Embassy to also be evacuated from Sudan.

Based on data from the Indonesian Embassy in Khartoum, there were 1,209 Indonesian citizens living in Sudan. Most of them are students and students who live in the capital Khartoum.

The existence and safety of Indonesian citizens in Sudan is of concern because Khartoum and its surrounding areas are the main points of deadly fighting between SAF and RSF.