Over 8,000 Indians left Ukraine since initial advisories, says MEA
New Delhi, February 28: India has evacuated over 8000 nationals since the initial advisories were issued by the country, informed the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi.
While addressing the media briefing on Monday, the ministry spokesperson said, "Evacuation efforts on Ukraine situation on the ground continue to be complex and fluid, some of them quite concerning, but we've been able to accelerate our evacuation process. Over 8000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine since we issued the initial advisories."
The MEA further informed that the six evacuation flight have landed in India, bringing back around 1400 citizens.
"The six evacuation flights have landed in India bringing back around 1400 (1396) citizens. The four flights were from Bucharest (Romania), while the other two were from Budapest (Hungary)," said Bagchi.
He also informed that the government has decided to send four Union Ministers as four special envoys to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations in the war-torn country.
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"Decision to deploy special envoys to the four countries bordering Ukraine. Union Ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia will be going to Romania, Kiren Rijiju to the Slovak Republic, Hardeep Puri to Hungary, VK Singh to Poland to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process," he continued.
Further, the Ministry of External Affairs has announced that India will send humanitarian aid, including medicines, to Ukraine.
"Situation on the ground continues to be complex and fluid, some of them quite concerning, but we have been able to accelerate our evacuation process," he added.
"We are advising students to reach western Ukraine, but don't go there directly, otherwise, they will face long queues and crowds," MEA spokesperson stated adding, it is better for Indian students stranded in Ukraine to stay in nearby cities and take shelter there.
They must move towards the border only after consultation with the respective embassy, he added.
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-PTC News
