We don’t know exactly the reason behind the repatriation of the Australian nationals. But we have  prepared everything and served (the repatriation of) hundreds of Australian nationals.
Badung, Bali (ANTARA) - As many as 199 Australian nationals boarded a Qatar Airways flight (number QF 108) for their country from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali on Wednesday.

“We don’t know exactly the reason behind the repatriation of the Australian nationals. But we have prepared everything and served (the repatriation of) hundreds of Australian nationals,” stakeholder relations manager for state-owned airport operator, PT Angkasa Pura I (Persero), at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Taufan Yudhistira, said on Wednesday.

The Australian government initiated the repatriation of its citizens by filing a request with the Indonesian government through the Bali provincial government, he said.

Most of the Australian nationals were staying in Bali, Medan, Jakarta, and Surabaya while in Indonesia, he informed.

Bali-based Australian Consul General Anthea Griffin noted in a press statement that the Australian government has cooperated with the Indonesian government and the Bali provincial government in providing commercial flights for citizens wishing to fly home.

The repatriation was arranged to allow vulnerable Australians to return to Australia after their flights were cancelled, she said.

The Australian government has made every effort to help its citizens wishing to return to home, she added.

“Australia thanks the Indonesian government and the Bali provincial government that have supported the commercial flight to Australia,” she remarked.

The Australian government has also extended health assistance to the Indonesian government for handling COVID-19.

The health assistance includes one thousand ventilators, 700 oxygen concentrators, more than 170 oxygen cylinders, 40,000 rapid antigen test kits, and 2.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Related news: Some 30 foreigners administered AstraZeneca vaccine in Bali's Sanur
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Translator: Ayu Khania P, Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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