REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian government has expressed concern over the current political and security situation in Yemen, which has been grave since early Thursday.
The Indonesian government through the Foreign Affairs Ministry said all parties should refrain from violence and be mindful of the safety of civilians in Yemen, both locals and foreigners.
The civil war in Yemen has intensified, with the Battle against Houthi Shiite militias, who had staged a coup against the government of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, growing worse.
The battle also involves the Gulf States coalition led by Saudi Arabia after the Yemeni President sought assistance from these countries.
The battle has spread throughout the Arab peninsula, and had begun in late September 2014 when Houthi rebels gained control of Yemen's capital Sana'a and forced their way into Sunni areas by expelling the President from Sana'a.
According to a press release from Indonesian Foreign Ministry Affairs issued on Saturday, the total number of Indonesian citizens in Yemen is 4,159, who are residing in different regions.
Among them, at least 2,686 people are students and 1,488 are registered as migrant workers.
According to the Indonesian Embassy in Yemen?s Sanaa city, most Indonesians people are residing in the southern part of the country, where there is less turmoil.
The government had started the evacuation process in February for citizens who wanted to voluntarily return to Indonesia.
Till date, a total of 175 Indonesian citizens have signed up for evacuation and 141 have been evacuated from Yemen and brought back to Indonesia.
The Indonesian Embassy is still facilitating the evacuation and protecting its citizens on a limited basis. The Embassy has also prepared an emergency contingency plan if the situation worsens.
The government also has requested Indonesian citizens to postpone their trip to Yemen until the situation stabilizes.
The embassy in Yemen is also providing services to Indonesian citizens through a 24 hour accessible hotline at +967 738115555.
Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika
