3 planes ready to evacuate Indians

Sushma Swaraj meets envoys from Gulf countries

New Delhi: Air India on Sunday kept three planes on standby for evacuation of Indian nationals in strife-torn Iraq even as the government reviewed the situation in the region at a high-level meeting after which it said the 39 abducted Indians were safe.

The government also said that it was in touch with the 46 Indian nurses stranded in the militant stronghold of Tikrit and that they were unharmed.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj chaired a meeting of Indian envoys to the Gulf countries to chalk out future strategy for safety and evacuation of nationals in Iraq. There are an estimated 10,000 Indian nationals in that country.

The Spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said there were around 150 Indians in the zone of conflict and about 50 of them have left. "As of now in the zone of conflict, they are less than 100," the spokesperson said.

The Government also decided to transfer part of welfare funds in the Indian missions in Gulf countries to its embassy in Baghdad to be used for helping Indians to facilitate the departure of its nationals.

The MEA spokesperson said the Indian nurses in Tikrit "remain concerned because of noises and fighting are going on in surrounding area but as of now they remain safe". "We are in contact with them," he said.

"At this stage ...We are working with them and their companies as well as those agents who have sent them come here to Iraq to bring them back by commercial flights. This initial phase will begin by tomorrow or latest by flight availability. This is a national endeavour," the spokesperson added.