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iraq crisis
Special jet brings back 200 Indians from Iraq
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 6
Over 2,000 more Indians would return from strife-torn Iraq in the next two days as the rescue efforts have gained momentum, a foreign office spokesman said today.

The government was providing air tickets to 1,600 of them, while the remaining 600 were being sent back by their respective companies, said MEA spokesman Syed Akbaruddin.

More than 200 Indians arrived here today by a chartered flight of Iraq Airways, while 46 nurses set free by militants of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) had returned to Kochi yesterday by a special Air India flight via Mumbai.

The government had set up four mobile teams of six members each in the cities of Baghdad, Najaf, Karbala and Basra in the non-conflict zone in southern Iraq to collect details of those who wanted to come back. The teams identified the details of 2,200 Indians following which logistics were arranged for their return. Two special flights would arrive tomorrow with 486 Indians, he said.

The anxiety level of Indians stranded in Iraq had come down, going by the number of calls received by the facilitation centres here and at Baghdad. Initially, 60-80 calls were received every day which had gone down to just 4-6 now, he said. About 490 calls had been taken by these centres so far, the spokesman said.

“We are also ready to provide assistance to deal with contractual problems of those employed in Iraq. However, they would have to abide by their contractual obligations,” he clarified.

A number of affected persons were also taking the regular commercial flights. Most of those assisted by their employers had already come back to their places, he said.

The government was adopting a calibrated approach towards dealing with the problem, the spokesman said. He, however, did not elaborate. “A limited number of Indians are stranded in the conflict zone” and the government was using all channels of diplomacy, besides other methods to ensure their safety.

2,000 more to return in 2 days: MEA

• The government is in the process of providing air tickets to 1,600 trapped Indians. Another 600 will be sent back by the companies they are working for
• Logistics are being arranged for the return of 2,200 Indians, whose details have been procured by special teams. Two special flights will arrive on Monday with 486 Indians.