Plea to evacuate nurses from Iraq

This image posted on a militant website on Saturday, June 14, 2014, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, appears to show militants from the al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) with captured Iraqi soldiers wearing plain clothes after taking over a base in Tikrit, Iraq. The Islamic militant group that seized much of northern Iraq has posted photos that appear to show its fighters shooting dead dozens of captured Iraqi soldiers in a province north of the capital Baghdad. Iraq's top military spokesman Lt. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi confirmed the photos authenticity on Sunday and said he was aware of cases of mass murder of Iraqi soldiers. (AP Photo via militant website)

India issued a strong statement supporting Iraq’s government, saying it was deeply concerned with deteriorating security situation in Iraq” calling the takeover of towns like Tikrit and Mosul by the sunni-militant ISIS group “a direct threat to the security and territorial integrity of Iraq.”

India firmly stands by Iraq in fight against international terrorism and in efforts to preserve its unity & territorial integrity

— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) >June 16, 2014

As fighting raged on in parts of Iraq, there is still no word on how 46 nurses stranded in the town of ISIS-held Tikrit will be able to return to India. The Ambassador of India in Iraq, Ajay Kumar told The Hindu that the situation on the roads remains unsafe, and after consulting both U.N. agencies and the Iraqi government, has advised the nurses to stay indoors and await clear passage to Baghdad.

India strongly condemns attacks by terrorist outfits on some Iraqi cities including Mosul and Tikrit >http://t.co/1cjmivPoWV

— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) >June 16, 2014

Official sources also said that when Embassy officials enquired from the nurses, the “majority of nurses in Tikrit prefer to stay back for the moment, as their salaries haven’t been paid, and they would rather not return.” The families of some of these nurses are urging the government to help bring them home immediately, even as the Kerala Nurses Association issued an appeal calling on the Central and State governments to address the worries of the “struggling nurses” including arranging an emergency evacuation.

Official sources said that an “evacuation is not on the cards” for now, but advised all Indian nationals to return by commercial routes that are available. A statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said, “The safety and security of the Indian nationals currently in Iraq remains a matter of serious concern for the Government of India.”

India's Mission in Iraq in touch with nurses in Tikrit. International Red Crescent Society volunteers visited today to ensure safety.

— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) >June 16, 2014