Evacuations Underway as Tensions Rise in Iran and Israel
As international tensions intensify, the Indonesian government has begun evacuating citizens from Iran and Israel. The ongoing military strikes and heightened security concerns have prompted a significant operation to ensure the safety of Indonesian nationals abroad.
Evacuation Efforts from Iran
A total of 97 individuals have been safely evacuated from Iran. Among them were 93 Indonesian citizens, along with three embassy staff members and an Iranian spouse of an Indonesian citizen.
The evacuees crossed the border into Azerbaijan and are now resting in Baku. The Foreign Minister, Sugiono, expressed satisfaction with the operation’s first phase.
โThank God [Praise be to God]the first phase of evacuation has gone well,โ
โSugiono, Foreign Minister
The journey to the border took approximately 16 hours, and despite increased congestion, the evacuation proceeded smoothly. According to recent reports, the Iranian city of Qom, home to a significant number of Indonesian students, is approximately 140 kilometers south of Tehran.
According to the U.S. Department of State, approximately 80% of Americans who are advised to leave a country due to unrest do so within the first two weeks of the advisory. The evacuation of citizens from Iran is a similar situation. (U.S. Department of State 2024)
Ongoing Concerns
The Foreign Ministry indicates that around 386 Indonesian citizens live in Iran. The majority are students in Qom, a city that has seen some missile strikes on key routes.
Despite the challenges, the government continues to monitor the situation closely and is ready to provide further assistance as needed.