According to a Thursday press release from the Consulate General in Jeddah, the repatriation was carried out in three flights, with the first group consisting of 244 people who had previously enrolled in the Consulate Generals repatriation program in Jeddah.
"A total of 224 overstayers have been sent home on Garuda Indonesia Airlines Flight GA983, consisting of 210 women, 25 children and nine infants," said the Consulate Generals spokesperson, Syarif Shahab.
The plane departed from Jeddahs King Abdulaziz International Airport at 00:25 from Saudi Arabia and landed at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Wednesday, June 1 at 14:05 pm.
Given the planes seat limitations, the other 87 Indonesians were repatriated on the same day using two different airlines, including Saudia Airlines flight number SV816.
The plane was carrying 32 Indonesian citizens, including 15 women and 17 men, on a direct flight from Jeddah to Jakarta.
Meanwhile, the remaining 55 female Indonesian nationals were flown on Saudia Airlines Flight SV822 from Jeddah to Riyadh to Jakarta.
According to the Jeddah Consulate General staff, who are working in Jeddahs Tarhil Shumaisy Detention Center, more than 150 detained citizens have obtained exit permits and will leave Saudi Arabia as soon as air reservations become available.
The consulates staff members are working closely with immigration authorities in Tarhil to finalize the exit permit process so all Indonesians in Tarhil can be repatriated soon.
The smooth repatriation process is the result of cooperation between the Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabian immigration authorities and volunteers who are consistently supporting the citizens data collection activities and participated in the accelerated repatriation program in 2016.
The repatriation program is also a follow-up of the Presidents instructions requesting that Indonesians who have overstayed or are undocumented and living abroad be repatriated.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
