New Delhi, Dec 13 (UNI) India has so far evacuated 77 Indian nationals from Syria, including 44 Zaireen, following the fall of the Bashar Al-Assad government, and its embassy is in touch with other Indians working or settled in that country, the MEA said today.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing a media briefing here, said India does not have any plans for evacuation of its nationals from any other Middle Eastern country as of now, amid the escalating violence in the region.
On Syria, he said that the Indian Embassy there continues to function.
“We have evacuated all Indian nationals in Syria who wished to return home following recent developments in that country. So far, 77 Indian nationals from Syria have been evacuated, those who wanted to return.
“In addition, there are several other Indians who are settled there, married there, or are pursuing some vocation, they still continue to be in Syria. If they tomorrow wish to return, we will give them a helping hand as well.
“The 77 people were evacuated through Lebanon. Our Embassy personnel in Damascus accompanied them to the border, after which our Mission in Lebanon received them and facilitated their immigration at the border, which was long as there were lot of people.
“Thereafter the Embassy in Lebanon made arrangements for their boarding and lodging in Beirut and for their travel back home.
“Most of our nationals have already returned to India and the remaining will be arriving later today or tomorrow. The 44 zaireen who were on a pilgrimage to Syria have also left Beirut yesterday to visit other religious sites in the region.”
On the number of Indians in the region, he said India has 3,000 people in Lebanon, and around 1,000 in UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) and UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force), which are two separate United Nations peacekeeping missions.
He said the Indian mission there has issued several advisories that the Indians remain in touch with the embassy, “and if tomorrow there is a requirement for evacuation we will do that. But as of now nothing is in the pipeline.”
“In Israel we have 32,000 Indian nationals working there. We are in regular touch. Our embassy is in regular touch with them and the community organisations for their safety and welfare.
“So far, there are no evacuation plans from any other country,” he added.
