The family of a Tuticorin nurse, P. Lesima Jerose Monisha (25), is longing for her safe return from Iraq.
Ms. Monisha, whose family resides in Caldwell Colony, is one of the 46 nurses remaining in Tikrit Teaching Hospital, her mother P. Edvi Jammal (65) said on Friday.
The family was shocked to know that Ms. Monisha was held under control of militants in Tikrit. She said her daughter spoke over phone seeking early release.
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The Teaching Hospital in Tikrit, the birthplace of Saddam Hussein, has found a soft corner in the hearts of insurgents and hence the inmates are not targeted.
The recruiting agency employed her on one-year bond, with a salary of US $850 per month. “Though the hospital seems to be a haven for the panic-stricken nurses, scenes of unrest are emerging in strife-torn Iraq. We want Ms. Monisha back home safe and soon. She went to Iraq to take up employment as a nurse four months back,” the mother told The Hindu .
J. Raisa (28), her elder sister, said salary had not been paid to Ms. Monisha since her employment and she could not even afford a phone call.
However, the Iraqi Red Crescent Society had come to the aid of Indians in the hospital, where they were being offered food.
Representations were made to Tuticorin Collector M. Ravikumar on June 17 and a letter seeking intervention of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was also faxed.
The Indian Embassy and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs were in touch with the hospital management in Tikrit to rescue the nurses, Ms. Raisa said, referring to a phone call from her sister.