BAGHDAD, Nov 26 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi Foreign Ministry, said yesterday that, it has evacuated 617 migrants stranded in Belarus, most of whom are women, children and the elderly.
“The ministry’s efforts are continuing, to evacuate the migrants voluntarily, and 617 Iraqis are now returned, in coordination with Iraqi Airways, from the Belarusian capital, Minsk,” Ahmed al-Sahaf, a spokesman of Iraq’s Foreign Ministry, said.
In an earlier statement, Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, stressed the importance of taking all “necessary joint measures to preserve the security and safety of Iraqi citizens, and work to avoid any Iraqis becoming a victim of human trafficking networks.”
“The Iraqi government is working to bring back all stranded Iraqis, voluntarily,” al-Kadhimi said.
Earlier in the month, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry announced the suspension of direct flights to Belarus, to protect Iraqi migrants from human trafficking gangs.
Thousands of migrants have been gathering on the Belarusian side of the border with Poland, in an attempt to enter Poland and then Germany, to seek asylum in Europe.– NNN-NINA
