For many Indians, it was a huge relief to return home. A group of Indian nationals evacuated from Syria arrived at New Delhi airport on Saturday after escaping the war-stricken country.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) worked closely with embassies in Syria and Lebanon to coordinate their safe evacuation.
Indians Share Their Experiences
Several evacuees opened up about their experiences of living in Syria during the conflict between the government and rebel forces. They expressed gratitude to the Indian government and embassies for their help.
“I lived in Syria for six months, and everything was normal initially. When the conflict between rebels and the government started, we reached out to the embassy and also contacted people we knew. Around 75 people left before me. We stayed in the embassy for two days, where they took good care of us and ensured our safety,” one evacuee shared.
“Now we can finally sleep peacefully. The government has done a great job. Evacuating 75 people isn’t easy,” he added.
Another person, who had been living in Syria for six years, spoke about the embassy’s support. “They provided us with food, accommodation, and made all the arrangements to bring us back to India,” he said.
MEA’s Statement on the Evacuation
On Friday, the MEA confirmed that 77 Indian nationals had been evacuated.
“So far, we have evacuated 77 Indians who wanted to return. Some Indians still live there because they have settled, married, or are working. If they wish to return, we will help them too,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
He explained that the evacuation was a coordinated effort between embassies in Syria and Lebanon.
“We evacuated them via Lebanon. They were transported by road, and the Indian embassy in Lebanon facilitated their immigration process. Out of the 77, 44 were pilgrims visiting various sites in the region. They have left Beirut for other destinations. The remaining 30 are either back in India or on their way,” Jaiswal added.
This operation highlights India’s commitment to ensuring the safety of its citizens abroad during crises.
