REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The Indonesian Embassy in Damascus, Syria, was sheltering 103 Indonesian citizens who are to be repatriated. Head of the Indonesian Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers Abroad, Jumhur Hidayat, said on Saturday that the Indonesian government would continue to work to repatriate its citizens from Syria in light of the worsening security situation.

Jumhur explained that the government was preparing for the return of 30 citizens of the 103 Indonesians in Damascus. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Syria in March 2011, the Indonesian government has set up a team in charge of safeguarding and securing Indonesian citizens. The team, which was sent to Syria, was established through the Foreign Ministry.

Further, the Indonesian Embassy continues sending officials to the main conflict areas in Homs, Hama and Daraa to evacuate Indonesians. "Outside these areas, Indonesia is also deploying twelve military officers who functioned as observers for the United Nations. So, the government is seeking out and evacuating Indonesians from the conflict locations," Jumhur said.