Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi announced through a press statement on Monday that 538 Indonesian nationals are being evacuated from Sudan through Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
"This is the first stage of the evacuation led directly by the Indonesian ambassador in Khartoum, Sudan," she said on Indonesians' evacuation from Sudan that is currently engulfed in an armed conflict.
The evacuated Indonesian nationals comprise 273 women, 240 men, and 25 infants.
Before being sent to Jeddah through sea route to then be repatriated to Indonesia, they were brought and had arrived at the Port Sudan City on Monday at 1:00 a.m. local time.
Most of the evacuated Indonesian nationals are Indonesian university students, Indonesian migrant workers, Indofood food processing company employees, as well as the Indonesian embassy's staff and their families.
The evacuees departed from Khartoum on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. local time. The group reportedly undertook a 15-hour journey to Port Sudan through Atbara, Damir, Mismar, and Sawakin.
There are around 15 inspection posts throughout the journey.
"The 538 Indonesian nationals are currently resting at a temporary stop in Port Sudan before departing toward Jeddah through sea route," she revealed.
"Insya Allah (God willing), the preparation to repatriate them to Indonesia continues to be done," she added.
It was reported that the Indonesian government continues to establish communication with the authorities in Sudan to ensure a safe route for Indonesian nationals.
The Indonesian embassy in Saudi Arabia and Indonesian consulate general in Jeddah also continue to communicate with the authorities in Saudi Arabia to ensure that the advance process proceeds smoothly.
Marsudi explained that small evacuation assistance teams had already been mobilized.
These include the team from Jakarta, led by the Protection for Indonesian Citizen and Legal Entities Director at Marsudi's Ministry, and the assistance teams from Riyadh and Jeddah.
On Monday morning, an evacuation team would also depart for Jeddah aboard an Indonesian Air Force airplane, she added.
This team comprises the Indonesian Defense Force (TNI) Security team, health team from TNI's Health Center (Puskes), and personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she said.
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