Several Middle Eastern students studying in Surabaya are unable to\nreturn to their home countries for Eid 2026 following the escalation of\ntensions in the Middle East. The conflict involving the United States,\nIsrael, and Iran has created instability across the region, with flight\nprices surging and commercial travel becoming increasingly\nunreliable.<\/p>\n
Among the affected students is Khusay, a student of Computer\nEngineering at Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya (Umsura) from Yemen.\nHe explained that he cannot return to Yemen due to uncertain security\nconditions and exorbitant flight ticket prices. \u201cThroughout this period,\nwar has broken out between Iran, Israel, and the United States. We\ncannot return to Yemen because flight tickets are extremely expensive,\nand there are no nearby flights to Yemen,\u201d he said in Surabaya on\nMonday, 16 March.<\/p>\n
Although Khusay\u2019s extended family is based in Egypt and he could\ntheoretically travel there, his mother has advised him to remain in\nIndonesia for safety reasons. \u201cMy family does not live in Yemen but in\nEgypt. However, my mother is currently in Yemen. She was in Yemen when\nthe war began, so the situation is indeed difficult,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Despite the option to travel via Egypt, Khusay has decided to remain\nin Indonesia during Eid 2026, a decision supported by his parents. \u201cMy\nparents told me to stay in Indonesia. I came here for one purpose\u2014to\nstudy. So whatever the situation, I must remain focused on continuing my\neducation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman Khalid, another student from Yemen, has made a similar\ndecision to cancel his plans to return home for Eid. Although Yemen is\nnot directly engaged in conflict with the United States, Israel, or\nIran, the regional instability has severely impacted the country\u2019s\nsecurity. \u201cDuring this war period, tickets to my country have increased\nby three to four times their normal price. Not only Yemen\u2014all major\nairports such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar are closed due to the\nconflict against Iran and obviously the conflict with Gulf nations,\u201d he\nstated.<\/p>\n
While Abdurrahman could travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to visit his\nextended family, he has chosen to remain in Indonesia given the unstable\nsituation. He is currently pursuing studies in Mechanical Engineering at\nUmsura. \u201cRight now I still have many classes, I cannot return home. In\nessence, there are many reasons why I am not going home\u2014the war,\nexpensive flight tickets, and short holiday duration,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/impact-of-war-several-middle-eastern-students-in-surabaya-confirmed-unable-to-return-home-for-eid-2026-1773669261", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }