REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Foreign Minister Sugiono stated that 97 Indonesian nationals (WNI) out of a total of 386 people in Iran have expressed their willingness to be evacuated immediately to the homeland.
“Last morning I received reports that there were already four buses moving towards the border of the neighboring country. Maybe now it's here,” Sugiono said in response to a reporter's question when he met after the departure of President Prabowo Subianto at Pulkovo International Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday (20/6) evening.
He explained that 97 WNI are those who have expressed willingness to be repatriated with the help of the Indonesian Government. “If the total WNI is 386 people, if they are registered, yes,” he said.
The Minister confirmed that the evacuation process is carried out gradually, so that the number of evacuees will continue to increase as the situation develops.
On Wednesday (18/6), Foreign Minister Sugiono said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had instructed the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Tehran, Iran, to assess the security situation and draw up an evacuation plan. The government has also upgraded the standby status at Tehran KBRI from level 2 to level 1.
“The intensity of Israeli attacks is increasing. The targets are now not only military targets, but also civilian targets,” Sugiono said, explaining the reason for the increased alert status.
He added that the Indonesian government has established communication with neighboring countries of Iran to ask for ease in the process of evacuating the country through the border.
“We have communicated with Iran's neighboring countries, asking that during the evacuation, the WNI be given the ease of crossing the border, given the increasingly unfavorable situation,” Sugiono said.
Regarding the technical nature of the evacuation, the Minister explained that the government is currently using only land lines, since almost all flights to Tehran are closed.
“Starting tonight (18/6), we also continue to appeal to all WNI in Iran to maintain close communication with KBRI,” he said.
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