UAE firm's staff stranded in Iraq

Marathon diplomatic efforts are on to repatriate employees of Indian and UAE companies deployed in the conflict hit regions of Iraq.

A number of foreigners including Indians are stranded in the conflict ridden regions of Iraq who are sending SOS to save them from the situation.

Indian Ambassador to the UAE T P Seetharam said about 12 Indian workers of a leading UAE company undertaking projects in Iraq are stranded in the country and efforts are on repatriate them to safe locations. This is in addition to nearly 50 Indian nurses and medical staff reportedly stranded in a hospital, surrounded by armed militants.

Speaking to Emirates 24|7, Seetharam said from Abu Dhabi: “We are in touch with the Indian Embassy in Baghdad and the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi to take necessary steps to ensure the safety of Indians living in Iraq. We have been approached by a leading company in the UAE doing some projects in Iraq seeking diplomatic help to repatriate 12 Indian workers stranded in the conflict zone.”

He said the contact details of the 12 stranded Indian workers, including a few Keralites, have been handed over to the Indian Embassy in Baghdad and the Ministry of External Affairs New Delhi, and whatever steps are needed to take care of their safety are being taken by the Indian Embassy in Baghdad.

“As of now, all Indians in Iraq are safe. We are in touch with the Indian Embassy officials in Baghdad to ensure that any logistical help needed from the UAE will be readily available for the safe repatriation of the Indian workers stranded there,” the ambassador said.

 Some UAE companies have projects in Iraq, but Seetharam did not reveal the name of the UAE firm.

The stranded Indian workers in Iraq include nearly 50 Indian nurses working in the affected cities of Mosul and Tikrit and political pressure is mounting for their early repatriation. India’s Ambassador to Iraq in Baghdad, Ajaya Kumar, has been quoted as saying that many Indian nurses from the South Indian state of Kerala are among hundreds of Indians stranded in Iraq.

“About 44 nurses working in a hospital are stranded there because their hospital is surrounded by armed militants. They are sending SOS to their friends, families and the media seeking help. They cannot be safely moved to the airport because it is not safe to travel through the conflict zones,” according to information available from the Indian diplomatic mission in Baghdad.

Kerala Chief Minister Ommen Chandy has said he is in touch with the new Indian Foreign Minister Sushama Swaraj regarding the safety of Indians, especially the nurses. According to the embassy, over 18,000 Indians work in Iraq oil rigs and hospitals as doctors and nurses.