Libya crisis: Indians in Benghazi to reach Malta by sea
Unconfirmed reports suggest, there are 500 Malayalis in Benghazi and 1000 in Tripoli
By : Gilvester Assary
Update: 2014-08-05 06:52 GMT
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With numerous armed militias affiliated to regions, cities and tribes fighting pitched battles in and around Benghazi, the Indian Embassy in Tripoli has decided to take the sea route to evacuate Indians including Malayalis.
A ship is being arranged in Benghazi to collect the Indian nationals and take them to safety in Malta from where they would be brought home by a special aircraft. Just two days ago the British Navy had arranged a ship to rescue British nationals stranded in Libyan capital Tripoli.
The situation is turning worse in Libya by the day. On Saturday 22 persons were killed when rival militias fought with each other to take control of Tripoli airport. The heavy fighting during the last few weeks in Tripoli, Benghazi has already claimed over 230 lives.
It is in this backdrop the Indian Embassy has strongly urged its people to leave Tripoli and Benghazi immediately. Unconfirmed reports suggest that there are 500 Malayalis including nurses in Benghazi and another 1000 in Tripoli. Many of these Malayalis are not quite keen on returning home as of now.
Embassy officials told NORKA that they were constantly encouraging the Indians in Benghazi to lave for safer places. However, many of them including Malayalis have refused to leave at the last minute, citing logistics problems. NORKA CEO P Sudip said so far 315 Malayalis had registered their names with the department for evacuation from Libya.
Meanwhile two special flights one each from Tunisia and Malta have been arranged by MEA to evacuate the second batch of Indians including Malayali nurses stranded in Tripoli and Benghazi.
NORKA sources said Union Minister Sushma Swaraj informed Chief Minister Oommen Chandy that the first batch of 58 nurses were put on scheduled flights as tickets were available for all. But the next two batches one from Tunisia and the other from Benghazi will be put on special flights. The two special flights would accommodate about 300 persons.