West Java on full standby, awaiting instructions for evacuation of Indonesian citizens in the Middle East

Bandung (ANTARA) - The West Java provincial government says it is in full standby awaiting instructions to conduct a mass evacuation of West Java residents in Middle Eastern countries, following the escalation of armed conflict between the US-Israel bloc and Iran that has grown increasingly dire.

The West Java Regional Secretary (Sekda) Herman Suryatman stressed that regional authorities are now under a single command of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) of the Republic of Indonesia to anticipate the worst-case scenario after a large-scale attack that struck the region since Saturday (28 February).

“All information relating to evacuation of Indonesian citizens (WNI) is to be conveyed through a dedicated channel prepared by the central government. As of today (3 March), there has been no official evacuation order from Kemenlu, but we continue to be ready,” Herman Suryatman said in Bandung on Tuesday.

To ensure a swift response, the West Java provincial government, through the Liaison Agency, has been integrated into the strategic communications group “Evakuasi Pemulangan Timur Tengah” (Middle East Return Evacuation), which is directly controlled by the central government.

“We are currently compiling detailed data on the number of West Java residents in the affected areas from each KBRI (Kedutaan Besar Republik Indonesia - Indonesian Embassy),” Herman said.

The on-ground situation has been reported as highly volatile, particularly in countries such as Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia following Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes on United States military bases.

Herman explained that the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran is currently finalising contingency or emergency plans to ensure the safety of WNI. Despite the sharply rising tension, Indonesian representatives in conflict zones continue to prioritise a high-level advisory caution before mass repatriation instructions are issued.