Andhra Pradesh NRI Affairs Minister Dr Palle Raghunatha Reddy on Wednesday requested the Centre to ensure safe return of migrants hailing from Andhra Pradesh from the civil war-hit Libya.
“Many persons from Andhra Pradesh, in particular from Cement Nagar in Kurnool District, had migrated to Libya in search of livelihood and they got stranded in the ongoing Civil War in Libya. The Andhra Pradesh workers were migrated to Libya on work visa two years ago and their permit is said to be expired soon,” Dr Palle said in his letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
“The migrants from Andhra Pradesh to Libya are very poor, semi-skilled or un-skilled and their families back home are anxious, worrying a lot about the safety and also safe return of their family members from spiraling violence-stricken Libya. Apparently, the workers told their family members that they were left with nothing and facing innumerable detriments and without the support, assistance of Indian Embassy, their safe return to India had become difficult,” he said.
Dr Palle requested Sushma Swaraj to issue suitable instructions to the Indian Embassy officials in Libya to interfere in the matter and extend necessary help in terms of food, clothing and shelter to Andhra Pradesh migrants. “Necessary steps may be initiated to bring them to the areas of safety and also arrange to bring them back home safely by providing free travel and necessary Visa documents at the earliest possible,” he said.
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