The Non-Resident Keralites Affairs Department (NORKA) of the Kerala Government has set up a 24-hour helpdesk to provide updated information on the situation in strife-torn Iraq, Non-Resident Keralite Affairs Minister KC Joseph has said. He also said that the Keralites nurses and students stranded in Iraq were safe.
Joseph told the State Assembly on Tuesday that the Government would do everything possible to bring back the Keralites stranded in Iraq. The Government has information that 44 nurses have been stuck in a hospital in Tikrit. He said that a group of officials from the International Red Crescent, who had met the nurses, had reported that they were safe.
The Indian Ambassador in Iraq had said the other day that evacuating the nurses at this point of time was nearly impossible as all roads leading to Iraqi capital Baghdad were under the control of the insurgents and that gunfire and blasts were continuing. Evacuation would be possible only when the roads became risk-free.
Joseph also said that the Kerala Government was in constant contact with the Keralite officials in the Indian Embassy in Iraq. Reports said that 32 of the 46 nurses in Tikrit had expressed desire to return to India. The others also wanted to return but they were unable to take a decision as they were yet to receive salary arrears.