Ministry Urges Indonesians to Leave Oman-Yemen Border Immediately

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Foreign Affairs Ministry advises Indonesians currently residing in the border areas of Oman and Yemen to leave. The appeal was issued following Oman's plans to close its border with Yemen for security reasons.

"In the past, Oman opened its door for humanitarian reasons. But due to today's security issues, they are closing it. We appeal to all Indonesians to stay away from the area, and for those who are there, leave immediately," the ministry's director of citizen protection Lalu Muhammad Iqbal said on Thursday, May 24. 

Read: Saudi Airstrikes Hit Presidency Building in Yemen, Killing 6

On May 6, 2018, Oman issued a circular prohibiting the crossing of the Yemen-Oman border to all foreigners, following the Oman Sultanate's intelligence over the political and security situation in Yemen. The government fears that the border may be used to smuggle weapons.

Since the Yemen civil war erupted in 2014, Indonesia has repatriated 1,925 of its citizens and 173 foreigners from Yemen by land, sea and air. Starting from 2015, the government has banned Indonesians from visiting Yemen.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry's data shows there are still some 1,000 to 1,600 Indonesians living in Yemen, mainly in the Hadramaut Province. Most of them are university students. 

ZARA AMELIA