949 Indonesian Citizens Have Been Evacuated from Sudan, 100 People Planned to Arrive in Indonesia Today

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related parties have again evacuated Indonesian citizens (WNI) from Sudan, with the latest returnees planned to arrive in the country today, said the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"As of today, 949 Indonesian citizens have been evacuated from Sudan," said Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in a written statement from Doha, Qatar as quoted Monday, May 2.

"In details, 930 people were evacuated via Jeddah, 13 people were evacuated via Egypt and six people were evacuated via the United Arab Emirates (UAE)," Foreign Minister Retno continued.

Foreign Minister Retno further explained that so far the total number of Indonesian citizens who have been repatriated to Indonesia is 829 people, all of them going through Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in three stages.

"First stage: 385 people arrived on April 28 with Garuda Indonesia. Second stage: 363 people arrived on April 30 with Garuda Indonesia. Third stage: 75 people arrived on May 1 with Indonesian Air Force aircraft. Meanwhile, six Indonesian citizens arranged their return independently," said Foreign Minister Retno.

"Furthermore, the fourth stage of repatriation is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on May 2 with Garuda Indonesia, the plan is for 100 evacuees," she said.

Foreign Minister Retno added that her party was grateful that the evacuation process for Indonesian citizens could be carried out well, amidst many countries still trying to evacuate their citizens from Sudan.

"I want to express my appreciation and gratitude to the Government of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates for helping evacuate several Indonesian citizens out of Sudan," she concluded.