TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Foreign Affairs’ director of citizen protection Judha Nugraha in a text message to Tempo on Tuesday said the government has enacted the second phase of evacuation for Indonesians currently residing in Sudan, which has been devastated by a deadly armed conflict.

The spokesperson said the second phase of evacuation – enacted by the Indonesian Airforce, health officials, and Foreign Affairs teams – starts from Khartoum to Port Sudan. Without going into details, Judha only asked for the public’s support. “We ask for the prayers from all,” he wrote.

The conflict in Sudan broke out ten days prior between the military and the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) militia group, which has sparked a humanitarian crisis, killing over reportedly 420 people and leaving millions of Sudanese without access to basic services.

Reuters reported that both sides agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire starting on Tuesday, April 25, after negotiations brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia. However, UN Special Envoy for Sudan Volker Perthes told the Security Council that the two sides had shown no sincerity to negotiate.

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, in a press statement on Monday, April 24, said 538 Indonesians which consists of 273 women, 240 men, and 25 children had been moved to Port Sudan.

With the latest data, Judah, in a short message, said that 542 Indonesians were being transported by sea from Port Sudan to Jeddah.

As previously reported, Minister Retno Marsudi said that in addition to the more than 500 Indonesians evacuated in the first phase, there would be around 289 Indonesians in the current evacuation process.

Indonesians evacuated from Sudan mostly comprise of university students, migrant workers, private sector employees, and Indonesian Embassy employees and their family members.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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