Indonesians Repatriated From Yemen By Land

Jakarta (Antara Bali)- The government will repatriate Indonesian nationals from Yemen by land as the air route is no longer safe, stated Chief of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Moeldoko.

"We have communicated with Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi as the TNI aircraft have been returned because it is unsafe to operate on the air route," General Moeldoko noted here, Tuesday.

The military and the foreign affairs ministry have continuously coordinated regarding the security of the evacuation process. The eastern sector is no longer safe, and therefore, the evacuation will be conducted by land.

Indonesia's military personnel have secured several Indonesian citizens in Aden and deployed a naval ship in Jidda, Saudi Arabia, for evacuation.

On Tuesday (April 14), 300 Indonesian nationals are scheduled to be evacuated by a chartered aircraft. The Indonesian government is intensifying efforts to repatriate its citizens from conflict-torn Yemen, following the military airstrikes launched by a coalition led by Saudi Arabia against the Houthi rebels.

Violence in Yemen escalated after the Yemeni president and prime minister resigned on January 22 and rebel leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi seized power in the country. Indonesia has expressed concern over the prolonged conflict in Yemen and has urged every party to refrain from committing violent acts and to be mindful of the safety of civilians in Yemen, both locals and foreigners.

Some 4,159 Indonesian citizens currently live in Yemen in Sana'a, of which 2,626 are students, 1,488 are professional workers in oil and gas companies, and 45 are embassy staff and their families. "Given the current condition, it is now time to step up efforts to evacuate our citizens in Yemen," Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marsudi stated on March 30. (WDY)