First flight to evacuate stranded Iraqis in India: transport ministry

Iraq 11:21 AM - 2021-05-03

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The Ministry of Transport announced the launch of the first flights intended to evacuate Iraqis stranded in India.

 

"The Iraqi Airways launched its first exceptional flight to India intended to evacuate Iraqi citizens stranded in Indian lands and who appealed to the Ministry to return them to Iraq due to the difficult conditions they are exposed to as a result of the coronavirus pandemic," the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

 

Director of Iraqi Airways, Kifah Hasan said that "this flight took place after obtaining official approvals from the Iraqi and Indian authorities, and all preventive measures stipulated in the regulations of the World Health Organization and the Supreme Committee for Health were taken."

 

"It is hoped that the national carrier will carry out other urgent evacuation flights to India after completing the basic approvals. As for the procedures for examination and quarantine of arrivals, they will be the competence of the medical teams present at Baghdad International Airport of the Iraqi Ministry of Health," Hasan added.

 

Iraq cancelled all flights to and from India on Tuesday, as the country deals with one of the worst waves of COVID-19.

 

India on Monday reported more than 300,000 new coronavirus cases for a 12th straight day to take its overall caseload to just shy of 20 million, as scientists predicted a peak in infections in the coming days.

 

 

 

PUKmedia