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)