Australian envoy to Indonesia relocates amid deepening COVID-19 crisis
11 April, 2020
Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Gary Quinlan has been recalled from his post as a precautionary measure, Australia’s Division of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has declared, as the COVID-19 health crisis deepens in Indonesia
In view of the latest developments surrounding the disease, DFAT has asked Quinlan to relocate from Jakarta.
“Based on medical advice, Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia Gary Quinlan AO has been temporarily relocated to Australia. Ambassador Quinlan will continue steadily to oversee embassy businesses from Australia,” the department said in a assertion on Thursday.
The ambassador is expected to depart for Australia soon.
“That is purely a precautionary measure, linked to accepted COVID-19 vulnerabilities,” it added.
Despite the decision, the division said Australia's embassy and consulates in Indonesia are "resourced to keep to serve Australia’s pursuits, including by giving consular assist to Australians as of this challenging time”.
Australia's travelling advisory for Indonesia during the last month offers offered a good blunt evaluation of the neighborhood healthcare program, stating that the next few months will be "a good hugely challenging period for neighborhood authorities and providers".
As of Fri, Indonesia's official COVID-19 tally reaches 3,512 confirmed cases and 306 fatalities.
Some foreign missions have previously asked its citizens to leave Indonesia and return home, like the United States Embassy.
Last week, Deputy Overseas Minister Mahendra Siregar led a video conference with at least 120 overseas missions and foreign organization representatives on Jakarta.
According to a press release out of the ministry, Mahendra reassured the envoys that consular products and services meant for foreign missions and international organizations in Jakarta will be allowed to continue regardless of the outbreak, whether through face-to-package with meetings by appointment, by mobile phone or virtually.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com
TAG(s):