Battling fear, anxiety in strife-torn Iraq

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 46 nurses from Kerala, trapped in a hospital in Tikrit, Iraq, have sought the help of Red Crescent Movement, a humanitarian organization, to safely reach the airport, a four-hour drive from the hospital. The representatives of the movement are waiting for a window of opportunity to make the drive.
"Around 15 of these nurses were unwilling to leave Iraq as they hadn't been paid for around seven months. However, there is a change in the mood now, especially as they have received word that many Indians are unaccounted for in Mosul, another stronghold of the Sunni insurgents. The MEA has not received a ransom demand and the Indian Mission is likely to receive additional help to locate the missing people. The nurses were approached by the Red Crescent Movement, which is in a better position to help," an MEA official said.
"Sunni insurgents, who have taken control of Tikrit, have not harmed the hospital or its staff as it is their lifeline. They are continuing to bring their wounded to the hospital while the nurses are lodged inside but eager to leave. Only seven nurses have deferred their exit as they have not been paid. I spoke to a nurse from Kerala and she said they held discussions with representatives of the Red Crescent Movement on Tuesday and they have been apprised of the situation outside. With the active involvement of the government of India, chances are that the evacuation could be speeded up," Norka chief executive officer P Sudeep said.
The toll-free numbers at the Norka centre have been ringing incessantly. "We have already attended to 111 phone calls as of Wednesday evening, mostly from relatives who want to hear of progress in the situation," Sudeep said.