NEW DELHI: India is sending a senior diplomat to facilitate the return of Indians from war-torn Libya.
Meanwhile, Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the matter on Wednesday. The ministry has already sent six additional staff to facilitate the return of Indian nationals via its missions in Tunisia and Libya. With airports in Libya turning into battlefields, most foreigners are leaving the country via the land border with Tunisia.
The minister also asked for funds to be transferred from the Indian Community Welfare Fund from the UAE to be used by the Indian nationals in difficult circumstances in Libya.
“Tickets are being purchased for those Indian nationals who have evinced interest in returning to India. At this stage, we have confirmation of 58 nurses who would like to return to India,” said MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.
The Indian Ambassador to Libya has informed that companies, which employ 450 Indian nationals in the Western part of Libya, have agreed to send back Indian employees at their own cost. “Options are being looked at to help Indian nationals in the Eastern part of Libya, that is Benghazi and the other side, return to India,” the spokesperson said. The first batch of returnees will return to India this weekend.