Embassy Intensifies Efforts to Evacuate Indonesians from Syria

Cairo (Antara) - The Indonesian Embassy in Syria is intensifying efforts to evacuate Indonesians from war-torn Syria to Lebanon, after which they will be flown to Indonesia. "The Indonesian embassy in Damascus is accommodating 150 Indonesian citizens today. Many more will be arriving at the embassy for evacuation to Beirut," said the spokesman of the Indonesian Embassy in Beirut, Wendi Budi Raharji, when contacted by Antara from Cairo on Saturday. According to Wendi, about 10 to 15 Indonesians come to the Indonesian Embassy in Damascus every day as the bloody conflict continues in that country. The accommodation center at the Indonesian embassy in Beirut is now housing 155 Indonesians who will soon be flown to Indonesia. Some 4,000 Indonesian citizens have been flown to Indonesia at the expense of the Indonesian government. He said that embassy officials in Beirut were on alert to pick up Indonesians in border areas who were sent over land from Damascus. The groups of Indonesians evacuated from Damascus are each composed of about 50 persons. The officials in Beirut moved speedily to provide them with transit visas and other proper documents, said officials. The number of Indonesians who have been evacuated to Indonesia through the embassy in Beirut from September 2012 to August 2013 stood at 3,979. "Since January this year, the number of evacuees has reached 3,101," Wendi added. He noted that the latest group flown to Indonesia consisted of 15 people. They were sent home on August 23. This was followed by an Indonesian who was flown back to Indonesia by her employer on August 30, 2013. Most of the Indonesian citizens evacuated from Syria were female housemaids, said officials.(*)