Indonesia Repatriates 75 Citizens from Egypt
75 Indonesian citizens queue at Cairo International Airport to return to Indonesia, Egypt. (Photo by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
The Indonesian Government on Saturday (25/4) repatriated 75 Indonesian citizens in Egypt.
The Indonesian Embassy in Cairo and the Egyptian Government have previously agreed to provide Indonesian citizens with a special Air Cairo flight following flight restrictions imposed by the local government.
“The Indonesian Embassy in Cairo initially received more than 100 Indonesian citizens who were interested to participate in voluntary repatriation. However, after the embassy announced that the repatriation is only prioritized those who are stranded and had urgent matters at home, as well as the information regarding procedures and situations that Indonesian citizens from abroad should take upon their arrival, the number declined to 75 people,” Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt Helmy Fauzy said.
A total of 75 Indonesian returnees from Egypt included those who visited the country for Arabic language training, college students, Indonesian language lecturers, Indonesian tourists involved in accidents and those who received medical treatment in Egypt, as well as Indonesian migrant workers in the country.
The Indonesian citizens stranded in Egypt came from various regions, including East Java province, Central Java province, West Java province, the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, Bali province, Aceh province, and West Sumatra province.
The Air Cairo flight was scheduled to depart on 25 April 2020 at 14.45 local time or 7.45 p.m. Western Indonesian Time and arrived in Jakarta on the next day at 10.35 a.m. Western Indonesian Time.
The Indonesian Government on Saturday (25/4) also repatriated 225 Indonesian crew members on MSC Magnifica cruise docked in Marseille to protect them from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The consulate general of Indonesia in Marseille together with the Indonesian Embassy in Paris, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and the principal company in Switzerland have agreed to repatriate all Indonesian crew members using a chartered aircraft from Marseille to Denpasar.
“The MSC Magnifica cruise is one of four cruise ships planned to dock in Marseille with several Indonesian crew members. The other three cruise ships are the Costa Smeralda cruise, the AIDAsol Sphinx class cruise, and the MS Europa 2 cruise, which are in the repatriation process for all their crew members,” Acting Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Marseille Erie Noer Bawono said.
Previously, the MSC Magnifica cruise ship on Monday (20/4) was scheduled to dock at the Marseille Cruise Port.
The consulate general of Indonesia in Marseille has been conducting intensive coordination since 12 April 2020 with the relevant party of MSC Magnifica, the principal company, the Marseille Cruise Port authority, and a Charter Airline in Spain to prepare the repatriation procedures and monitor the condition of all Indonesian crew members.
For the record, all Indonesian crew members on MSC Magnifica cruise has carried out 40 days of self-isolation to ensure that they are in a good health condition and not infected by the coronavirus.
Based on the results of the rapid tests, all Indonesian crew members tested negative for the disease. In addition, the consulate general of Indonesia in Marseille ensured that all crew members received a good health certificate and COVID-19-free certificate, a guarantee letter from the principal of the cruise ship company to cover all treatment costs if any crew members contracted the coronavirus within 14 days.
“The consulate general of Indonesia in Marseille will also continue to monitor all Indonesian crew members’ health conditions on three other cruise ships as well as to oversee the return process as a tangible measure to protect Indonesian citizens abroad,” Erie added. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Indonesian Embassy in Egypt / Indonesian Consulate General in Marseille / EN)
Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas
