Zee Media Bureau/Tarun Khanna
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday said that around one thousand people strifed on Iraq have expressed their desire to come back to India.
While addressing a press conference, MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said, “Though a large number of people want to remain in Iraq, around 1000 have shown desire to come back.”
On the evacuation of Indian nurses trapped in Tikrit, Syed said that due to ongoing militant onslaught, they have taken refuge in the basement of the hospital where they were working.
He further added that all the nurses are safe and unharmed and the ministry is in constant touch with hostages.
Recounting the fierce battle between Iraqi troops and ISIS militants, the nurses yesterday said that they cannot stay in the region for another day.
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.
The ISIS militants have killed hundreds of people since the start of the offensive and have seized prominent regions in Iraq.
As per UN report, some 500,000 people have been internally displaced.
