200 arrive on Sunday, 117 expected to reach New Delhi on Monday
A day after 46 nurses returned from Iraq, another 200 Indians arrived here on Sunday from Najaf. Another 117 Indians are expected to arrive in New Delhi by an Iraqi Airways plane on Monday morning, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday.
“Approximately 2,200 Indian nationals have indicated their desire to leave. Of them, 600 have been provided tickets by their companies, while 1,600 are being provided tickets by the Government of India,” MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
These Indians are mostly from Iraq’s southern region, away from the conflict raging in the country’s northern and north-western parts.
The MEA has in place four mobile teams of six persons each in Najaf, Karbala, Basra and Baghdad to assist Indians who want to return. “ If any of them have problems regarding tickets, the Government of India stands ready to pay for them,” said Mr. Akbaruddin.
“Within the next 36-48 hours, two flights, one from Najaf to Delhi carrying 200 Indians and another from Basra — the first special flight from there — will bring back 286 Indian nationals,” he said.
The MEA said officials were processing documents of another 200 people.
