The minister made the statement in responding to reports that an Indonesian named Imanda Amalia who worked at UNRWA in Cairo had died in a clash between anti government protesters and pro-Mubarak group recently.
"The Foreign Affairs Ministry has tried to verify the news with UNRWA offices in Cairo, Amman, New York and the United Nations` office in Jakarta. UNRWA`s Head of Cairo office Dr Abeer Al-Khraisha confirmed that there was no staff in Cairo named Imanda Amalia," the minister said.
However, Marty said, Dr Al-Khraisha had not yet received an information if there was UNRWA staff from other branch who happened to have been a victim of a clash in Egypt recently.
The minister added information from the Jakarta branch of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) also confirmed that there were no Indonesian staffers in UNRWA`s office in Egypt.
As to the news stating that Imanda Amalia was actually an Indonesian born with Australian citizenship, Marty stated Indonesian Embassy in Australia was still verifying the information with related authority in Australia.
According to data from Foreign Affairs Ministry there are 6,149 Indonesian living in Egypt consisting of 4,297 students and 1,002 workers, as well as Indonesian Embassy`s staff and their families.
Last Jan 1, Indonesian government had evacuated 455 people from Egypt using Garuda Indonesia flight (Boeing 747-400). Some 430 more will be evacuated on Thursday (Jan 3) at night.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) has made available nine C-130 Hercules big transport aircraft to help evacuate the country`s citizens from Egypt.
TNI Commander Admiral Agus Suhartono before meeting with House of Representatives` Foreign Affairs Commission here on Wednesday however said that "the aircraft has not yet been used for efficiency and effectiveness."
He said "Boeing 747 is considered to be more effective for that purpose. A Hercules is only able to carry around 120 passengers, Boeing 747 has enough room for 420."
"That is three times the capacity of a Hercules. Perhaps by using Garuda planes it will be more efficient in terms of fuel consumption," he said.
Suhartono however said the TNI would always stand by in case it is needed to smooth the evacuation.
Until now TNI has fielded five personnel to help the evacuation task force in Egypt.(*)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
