Middle East Conflict Intensifies, Parliament Urges Government to Protect the Safety of 58,000 Umrah Pilgrims

Deputy Speaker of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Abidin Fikri urged the government to take concrete steps promptly to safeguard the safety of around 58,000 Indonesian Umrah pilgrims affected by the escalating Middle East conflict.

Airspace closures in several regions following the heightened tensions between the United States–Israel and Iran have led to mass flight delays and left pilgrims stranded at various airports. According to Abidin, the situation requires a swift and coordinated response from the government to ensure safety as well as logistical certainty for the pilgrims.

The government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Ministry of Transport, should carry out intensive coordination to map the data of affected pilgrims and to ensure the provision of emergency accommodation and logistical assistance, Abidin Fikri said in a written statement on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.

The legislator from the PDI-P faction emphasised that the safety of Indonesian citizens, including Umrah pilgrims, is the state’s foremost priority as mandated by the constitution. Therefore the government should prepare a comprehensive mitigation scheme if the security situation in the region continues to deteriorate.

He also urged the government to consider the possibility of rerouting flights along alternative routes and to prepare a phased evacuation scheme if the escalation of the conflict further jeopardises Indonesian nationals in Saudi Arabia and the surrounding area. “Proactive steps must be prepared immediately. Do not allow the pilgrims to remain in uncertainty for too long,” he said.

Moreover, Abidin said that Commission VIII of the DPR RI would continue to monitor the developments and ensure the government fulfils its duty to protect Umrah pilgrims to the maximum. Such supervision, he said, is intended to guarantee that the pilgrims can return home safely.

He also urged the pilgrims and the travel organisers to stay calm and follow official guidance from the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. “The government must be present in full and ensure the pilgrims are not left stranded. Their safety and the certainty of their repatriation must be a priority.”