Iraq crisis: Syria govt responds to NRI Sabha Punjab
Friday, 11/07/2014
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=110356&boxid=59836&uid=&dat=2014-07-11
Jalandhar : Expressing concern over a large number of Punjabi still stuck in war torn Iraq, the Embassy of Syrian Arab Republic in India has sought details and names of Punjabis from NRI Sabha Punjab to help evacuate them from Iraq.
The response of the Syrian Embassy comes following the initiative of the NRI Sabha Punjab to help locate and evacuate Punjabis in Iraq. NRI Sabha President Jasvir Singh Gill had written to the Embassy of Syrian Arab Republic in India seeking their assistance for a safe exit of Punjabis still lying trapped in Iraq. On Wednesday, the Syrian Embassy authorities responded to the mail of NRI Sabha in this regard. The NRI Sabha president had sent a letter to the embassy on July 1 while they had also sought written to many other international agencies to save Indians, particularly Punjabis who were employed with various construction firms.
In its response, the Syrian embassy officials stated, “Although this was happening in Iraq, not in Syria, still our government is willing to help. If there is anything that we can help in this regard, please provide us with specific information and names to enable us to help in case that is possible.”
The response from the Syrian Embassy also mentioned that the Syrian Government was already working in cooperation with the Government of India on this issue. “And specifically the safety and well being of Indian citizen in general is a matter of big concern for the government and the people of Syria,” it stated.
NRI Sabha president Jasvir Gill said that the response from the Syria Embassy was a big ray of hope for them, as many Punjabis were still stuck in Iraq. “Especially, there has been no trace of the 40 Punjabis trapped in Mosul city of Iraq while the staff nurses from Kerala held captive had already reached home,” he said.
Gill said that the Sabha would collect the requisite information with names to trace the whereabouts of Punjabis putting up in war affected zones of Iraq. “NRI Sabha was not leaving any stone unturned to collect information and make use of all channels to reach out to the Punjabis in Iraq. The Indian government and the Punjab government have been providing round the clock assistance in this regard and any vital input would help in their fast evacuation from Iraq,” he added.
