Indonesians in Middle East urged to stay calm: Deputy Minister
“We hope that everyone currently in this conflict-affected region will remain calm and confident that the situation will soon improve. Let us follow the policies and directives issued by our ambassadors and local authorities,” he said in Doha, Qatar.
Mugiyanto delivered the remarks in a video statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He said that he and several aides from the Ministry of Human Rights have been stranded in Doha for three days due to the Iran-Israel-US conflict, preventing them from continuing their flight to Geneva, Switzerland, to attend a session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The deputy minister noted that security concerns remain high in the region, adding that there has been no indication of an immediate reopening of airspace in Qatar and neighboring countries.
Quoting Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar Guruh Langkah Samudra, he said that more than 100 Indonesian nationals were waiting for outbound flights at Hamad International Airport in Doha.
“In addition to those in Doha, there are dozens or even hundreds of Indonesian citizens stranded in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as well as in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. We are all grounded and unable to continue our travel,” Mugiyanto said.
He added that local authorities have restricted residents from going outside due to security concerns.
“We can only hope for the swift reopening of airspace in Qatar and nearby countries and for peace to be restored soon,” he said.
Tensions escalated in the Middle East after the United States and Israel jointly launched attacks on Iran on Saturday, February 28, targeting Tehran and other strategic locations.
Iran responded by firing missiles at US bases across the region, including one in Doha.
The conflict unfolded amid indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran on limiting Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, with Oman serving as mediator. The third round of talks was held in Geneva on Thursday, February 26.
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Translator: Fath Putra, Tegar Nurfitra