18 Maldivians stuck in Indonesia, have been repatriated.

The foreign ministry’s Communication Director, Miuvan Mohamed, said that that the 18 were brought back via a flight of Indonesia’s Garuda Airlines on Friday night.

He added that all 18 were in the southeastern nation “for a training”.

While authorities have asked those abroad that want to return to register, Miuvan said that those that are registered from Indonesia include Maldivians that went there for business, trainings as well as tourists.

Noting that there are additional Maldivians there that want to return, Miuvan said that an opportunity will be provided soon.

The foreign ministry spokesperson highlighted that there are movement restriction measures within Indonesia, and that this has made it difficult for those that wish to return as well.

However, Miuvan said that repatriation efforts are being carried out together with Indonesia’s foreign ministry as well as the Maldives High Commission in Malaysia.

He stressed that Maldivians stranded in other countries will be repatriated through similar procedures in the future.

A number of Maldivians stranded abroad as well as medical students have been brought back, through chartered national airline flights as well as foreign assistance. There have been repatriation flights from Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia and India.

All returnees are being quarantined for a 14-day period and tested for coronavirus before release, since March 21. Five returnees have tested positive thus far.