Indonesia has evacuated its ambassador and other staff members of the
mission office from Lebanon, but the office still operates, the Foreign Ministry
said yesterday.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Desra Percaya said the office still gives services
to Indonesians who want to exit from the vulnerabl ecountry.
"The instruction of the foreign minister (was released) two days ago to
evacuate staff members of the Indonesian Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon," he said.
"But the embassy office is not closed. So there is still one diplomat and
local staff member to give services to Indonesians in Lebanon," he said.
In addition to the embassy officials, seven out of 75 Indonesian workers in
the country were already evacuated, and another evacuation was conducted Friday
afternoon, he added.
He said that other workers would not exit from Lebanon, as they perceive
secure to stay with their employers in refugee camps.
Over the past nine days, Israel launched military operations in Lebanon as a
revenge for the radical Hezbollah's holding of two Israeli hostages, and the
Hezbollah fought back with rockets.
The escalation caused dozens of deaths and more injuries on both sides. About
2,000 international peacekeepers are currently posted in the conflict zone.