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RI 'concerned' about worsening situation in Aleppo
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Security talk – Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi (right) talks with Indonesian Military commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo (left) after a press conference on the government’s efforts to release Indonesian sailors taken hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants in Jakarta on Oct.2. (Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf)
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oreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi conveyed late on Friday Indonesia's grave concerns over the recent developments in the besieged city of Aleppo, Syria, which has seen a negotiated ceasefire abruptly suspended.
"Indonesia is deeply concerned about the ongoing developments, particularly the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Aleppo," she told reporters after a citizen protection awards ceremony in Jakarta.
Against the backdrop of a continuously growing number of civilian casualties, particularly women and children, Indonesia strongly has urged the Bashar al-Assad administration to provide full and unbridled access for humanitarian aid, the minister said.
"We are aware that around 50,000 residents of Aleppo need to be evacuated, [...] and we will continue to push for the resumption of peace talks, which must be inclusive and non-sectarian," Retno added.
Both the Syrian government and the rebel forces have accused each other of doubling back on the deal, annulling the ceasefire and throwing thousands of people onto the streets in the dead of winter.
Due to such extraordinary circumstances in Syria, the Indonesian government is having difficulties monitoring its citizens.
"There are still so many of our citizens in Syria. [...] Now and again there have been a few cases where we had to evacuate our citizens from the conflict area," Minister Retno said without providing an estimate for the number of Indonesians still in the country.
The Indonesian Embassy in neighboring Damascus remains open, she explained. (jun)
