By TCN News,
New Delhi: With the arrival of a new batch of 1,188 Indians at Mumbai and Delhi on 3rd March, the Indian Government, by the end of Friday, was able to evacuate 9,209 countrymen stranded in Libya. The government expects to complete the exercise of evacuating all those desirous of leaving Libya by 10th March.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs bulletin on 3rd March, all Indian nationals evacuated from Benghazi (Libya) on board MV Scotia Prince on 1st March have reached Alexandria (Egypt).
Meanwhile, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur informed Rajya Sabha on 4th March (Friday) that the passenger ship, MV Scotia Prince, ferried 1,188 Indians from Benghazi to Alexandria in Egypt from where they arrived in Mumbai and Delhi by special flights organized by the Government on 3rd March and early morning on 4th March.
In view of the disturbed conditions in Libya, the Government of India took the decision to relocate Indian nationals out of Libya and assist in their return home. The first special flight of Air India left Libya on February 26. Since then, an air bridge has been established between Tripoli and Delhi.
“By the end of the day today (4th March), 9,209 Indian nationals would have been evacuated out of Libya, including 1,450 out of Tripoli and Sehba by Air India flights. We expect to complete the exercise of evacuating all those desirous of leaving Libya by March 10. It may be noted that some Indian nationals have opted to stay on Libya,” the minister informed the Upper House of Indian Parliament on Friday.
A passenger ship, Scotia Prince, has also ferried 1,188 Indians from Benghazi to Alexandria in Egypt from where they arrived in Mumbai and Delhi by special flights organized by the Government yesterday and early this morning. The ship turned around from Alexandria last night at 2330 hrs for Benghazi, from where we are coordinating the transport of another 1,150 of our nationals back to India via Alexandria. The ship will dock at Benghazi early morning tomorrow.
As we speak, a passenger ship, Red Star One, is also on its way to Misurata and Sirte to ferry Indian nationals to Malta from where special flights are being arranged out of Valletta to bring them back. An air bridge is also being put in place from late tonight between Sehba and India and we hope to evacuate about 2000 Indian nationals from there over the next 5 days, beginning today, she further said.
An IAF IL 76 aircraft has been stationed in Cairo to undertake possible evacuation operations from Libya. A second IL 76 aircraft has also been put on readiness to be dispatched as and when the need arises. Two ships of the Indian Navy – INS Jalashwa and INS Mysore are en route and are expected to be in the region by March 8 to assist in the evacuation operations of any Indians that might still be in the coastal towns of Libya, the minister informed.
As part of the effort to ensure the safe and orderly evacuation of Indian nationals from Libya, External Affairs Minister spoke to his Libyan counterpart on March 2. The Libyan Foreign Minister assured EAM that all Libyan authorities concerned would extend every possible assistance for this purpose.
As assured by EAM, the cost towards evacuation of Indians from Libya assisted by Government in their safe and orderly return to India is being met by the Government.
Click the link for full list of new batch of 1,188 Indians evacuated from Libya on 1st March 2011.
http://mea.gov.in/meaxpsite/pressrelease/2011/03/Prince.pdf