Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday that the Indian government had set up three camp offices in Najaf, Karbala and Basra to assist its nationals both in conflict zones and non-conflict zones in Iraq.
MEA spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin also said that the Indian community welfare funds had been transferred to India`s mission in Iraq.
On the condition of Indian nurses caught in strife-torn country he said, “Some shortage of funds was faced by 46 nurses in Iraq. We have provided those funds,” adding, “They remain safe. We are in touch with them,” ANI reported.
At the same time he revealed that Indians in Tikrit would be brought back home by commercial helicopters from Tuesday onwards.
Regarding 39 Indians who were abducted in Mosul, Akbaruddin said that they remained unharmed. “We have got some leads, we are working on them,” he said.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Ministry Sushma Swaraj met all the Indian ambassadors in Gulf today for discussion on two fronts, namely, the situation in Iraq and assistance to Indians.
Akbaruddin said that the “responses of ambassadors in Gulf were positive and forthcoming.”
Apart from the Indian envoys, the Gulf countries ambassadors posted in India also attended the meet.
Situation in Iraq & assistance to Indians primary focus. Minister @SushmaSwaraj meets Indian Ambassadors in Gulf. pic.twitter.com/IWJDUxYV1F
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) June 29, 2014
Sunni militants, backed by al Qaida have captured two key cities in Iraq and are reported to be marching towards Baghdad.
Due to the fighting that broke out on June 10, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis are said to have been displaced.
