Govt may airlift cash-strapped students in Egypt
Govt may airlift cash-strapped students in Egypt
JAKARTA (JP): The government is weighing the possibility of
airlifting home many of the nearly 2,500 cash-strapped Indonesian
students studying in Egypt.
The students have been hard hit by the monetary crisis
afflicting Indonesia, and without any immediate assistance in
sight there may be no recourse but to repatriate them.
Foreign ministry officials could not say the exact number to
be flown home but said that preparations were being made, if
needed, to fly them all back to Jakarta by using the massive
airlift taking Indonesian Haj pilgrims home from Saudi Arabia.
Officials are projecting that the last three batches of
pilgrims could stop over in Cairo on their way home to pick up
the students.
The homeward-bound airlift from the Haj is scheduled to begin
in mid-April.
According to A. Ghani, director general for sociocultural
relations and foreign information, there are 2,484 registered
students in Egypt, most of whom are studying religious affairs at
the famed Al-Azhar university.
Only 825 are on scholarships, Ghani said.
He explained that those who would be returned were mostly
undergraduates while assistance would be sought for the few
postgraduates.
According to officials here, the Indonesian students in Egypt
have been the hardest hit compared to students studying in other
countries because, unlike those studying in Europe and the United
States, most of them come from low-income families.
Furthermore it is also more difficult for these students to
obtain part-time employment.
To anticipate the returning students, the government is also
planning to allow as many as possible to enroll in the State
Institute for Islamic Studies.
Both the foreign ministry here and the Indonesian Embassy in
Cairo have been quick to anticipate the basic needs of the
students.
Indonesia's Ambassador to Cairo, Hassan Wirajuda, took the
initiative of gathering seven tons of rice for the students and
coordinated efforts with local authorities to assist the students
in their time of need.
Egyptians have been generous in their assistance to the
students.
The Crisis Management Team for Indonesian Students formed by
the Embassy has received financial assistance from the community
including a check for 100,000 Egyptian pounds (US$30,000) from
the Egyptian government.
An Egyptian businessman has also donated five tons of rice.
The Grand Shiekh of Al-Azhar, Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, in a
Friday sermon last month urged people to provide assistance to
the Indonesian students.
As reported by Antara from Cairo, lecturers at Al-Azhar have
even set aside a small portion of their salaries to help. (mds)