REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, on her way back from a working visit to Nigeria, transited in Doha to monitor the security situations and the state of Indonesian citizens in Qatar.

The minister made the transit in Doha and met Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar Muhamad Basri Sidehabi to get a report on the current situation and the circumstances of Indonesian citizens in Qatar, according to a press statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday.

At the meeting, Sidehabi stated that the situation in Qatar was still normal. The availability of food and goods in supermarkets and shops was still normal.

The Indonesian ambassador also communicated with the groups of Indonesian Citizens in Doha to ensure the condition of Indonesian citizens and to convey the readiness of Indonesian embassy staff to provide protection for the citizens. A special Task Force has been established in order to improve the protection of Indonesian citizens in Qatar.

"I expect Indonesian citizens in Qatar to immediately communicate with the embassy if they need help," Retno remarked.

The Indonesian Embassy in Doha provides a hotline number that Indonesian citizens can contact for help and information: +974 3332 2875.

Based on information from the Indonesian embassy, the number of Indonesian citizens in Qatar who have been reporting themselves to the embassy in Doha as of June 2017 is about 29 thousand people.

Previously, the government of Indonesia appealed to Indonesian citizens in Qatar to remain calm and alert regarding the development of the security situation in the country related to political tensions in the Middle East region, where some Arab countries severed their diplomatic ties with Qatar.

Indonesians in Qatar are encouraged to remain calm but alert and keep abreast of the security situation around them through various means.

Sidehabi is coordinating with local authorities to ensure security and safety of Indonesian citizens. The ambassador of Indonesia, together with several staff of the Indonesian Embassy in Doha, also directly monitors the conditions in various places, such as in the streets, shopping centers, and other crowded places.

According to the Indonesian embassy, the political and security conditions in Qatar to this day are generally normal, and there are no signs of increased political and security escalation.

However, there is an increase in the number of security forces, particularly in areas considered important, such as government centers, places of worship, airports, stations, bus terminals, public facilities, and crowded shopping centers. 

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