"The important thing is that they are evacuated from there (Egypt) first, and then they will be returned to their hometowns, and if later they want to go back to Egypt, they can," Minister Laksono said here Tuesday.
The evacuation was aimed at securing Indonesian workers amid the political turmoil in the Middle East country, he said.
The latest data from the Indonesian foreign ministry showed that there are 6,149 Indonesians consisting of 4,297 students, and 1,002 workers as well as staff members of the Indonesian embassy and their relatives in Egypt.
They have set up communication networks in 20 post commands in Egypt.
Indonesia`s foreign affairs ministry has urged Indonesian nationals in riot-torn Egypt to continuously communicate and coordinate with the Indonesian embassy in Cairo.
The Indonesian embassy`s address is 13 Aisah El Taimoria Street, Garden City, Cairo, Egypt; and phone numbers: +20227947200, +20227953877, +20233350627, +20237617681, the foreign ministry said here Tuesday in its press statement.
To find out about the situation and the condition of Indonesians in Egypt, the public could also contact the foreign ministry in Jakarta, at phone numbers: +6282112450500 (Mr Tatang Razak), +6281210157444 (Mr. Ronny P. Yuliantoro), +6285888271361 (Mr. Bambang), +6281325583226 (Mr. Masbukhin).
The ministry also urged the Indonesians in Egypt to be watchful and avoid crowds and less safe areas.
The government has asked those intending to go to Egypt in the near future to reconsider their plans until the situation in the Middle East country is back to normal.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono meanwhile said on Monday (Jan 31) that the evacuation process of the citizens in Egypt would involve military elements to assure security and smoothness of the operation.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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