By Ageng Wibowo
Jakarta (Antara) - The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, continues to make efforts to repatriate a large number of Indonesian citizens who have exceeded their permitted length of stay in Saudi Arabia.
As of December 3, 2013, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent home 480 Indonesian citizens, comprising 288 women, 103 men, and 89 children, using a special Saudi Airlines plane, as stated in a press statement issued by the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah, received here on Wednesday.
The total number of Indonesian overstayers who have been sent home by the government is reported to be 5,495.
However, the results of data collected manually at the Shumaysi Immigration Shelter currently stands at 5,279 overstayers, comprising 2,801 women, 1,878 men, and 600 children.
The immigration processing of the Indonesian overstayers will continue until all those living in the Shumaysi shelter are sent back in accordance with the commitment of the Saudi Arabian government to assist the effort.
The Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah continues to assist the process by transporting the overstayers to the King Abdul Aziz Airport and providing food and assistance for each departure.
The effort to repatriate Indonesian overstayers is in line with the commitment made by the Saudi Arabian authorities on December 1, 2013, to provide 16 special Saudia Air aircraft for the deportation of those who are currently living in the Shumaysi shelter.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian authorities have also opened up an independent repatriation process for overstayers who entered Saudi Arabia on Umrah and Hajj visas. (*)
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Jawa Timur 2013
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Jawa Timur 2013