New Delhi,Several Indians got trapped in
the conflict areas following sudden attacks and capturing of several cities in
northern and central Iraq by the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS)
beginning 8 June.
A group of 46 nurses working in a local
hospital in the city of Tikrit got stuck due to the conflict, but have now been
safely brought back to India. Another group of about 41 Indian nationals
working in a construction company in Mosul were taken captive by an
unidentified group. The Government of India is making every efforts and taking
all steps to secure their release as well.
On 19 June, the Government suspended
emigration clearance to Iraq, until further notification and advised Indian
nationals to avoid all travel to Iraq. The Government issued travel advisories
on 15 June, 24 June and 28 June advising Indian nationals to leave Iraq by
commercial means. Our nationals living in areas affected by the ongoing armed
conflict have been advised to stay indoors as far as possible and to remain in
contact with our Embassy in Baghdad for necessary guidance and updated
information on the evolving security situation. Those Indian nationals, who do
not have travel documents or need other consular services, have been advised to
seek assistance from our Embassy in Baghdad.
Our Mission in Baghdad and the Ministry of
External Affairs have established 24 hour helplines to assist our nationals in
Iraq and their concerned family members in India. The Government has set
up special camp offices in Najaf, Karbala and Basra and strengthened our
Embassy in Baghdad through the addition of 25 staff members. These new officers
are proactively contacting Indian nationals and companies where they work,
offering all necessary assistance, including provision of travel documents, air
tickets and facilitation in any other form for travel out of Iraq.
The contact details of our camp officers
in these cities, available on the websites of our Embassy in Baghdad and the
Ministry of External Affairs, are as follows:
1) Najaf
+964 771 6511190
+964 771 6511181
+964 771 6511179
2)
Karbala
+964 771 6511183
+964 771 6511180
+964 771
6511176
3)
Basra
+964 771 6511185
+964 771 6511182
+964 771 6511178
4) 24
hour help line in Baghdad
+964 770 444 4899
+964 770 484 3247
+964 771 6511189
+964 771 6511193
Emails:
amb.baghdad@mea.gov.in
hoc.baghdad@mea.gov.in
cons.baghdad@mea.gov.in
5)
24 hour help lines in
Ministry of External Affairs.
+91 11 2301 2113
+91 11 2301 7905
+91 11 2301 4104
Email: controlroom@mea.gov.in
The details of these helplines have been
well publicized through the media.
Our Embassy in Baghdad is in close and
regular contact with the Iraqi Government authorities and Iraqi Red Crescent
Society for safe return of Indian nationals from Iraq.
A few thousand Indians were estimated to
be in Iraq, mostly in relatively safer autonomous Kurdistan region and in
southern Iraq before the conflict. Our Embassy has been providing all necessary
assistance to Indian nationals desirous of returning to India, including
through provision of travel documents, air tickets and special flights.
As of 6 July, 2117
Indian nationals were provided assistance for travelling back to India. This
includes air tickets to 1020 Indian nationals.
This Information was
given by answer the Minister For External Affairs Shrimati Sushma Swaraj in Lok
Sabha today.
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