The long lost happiness of relatives of Kerala nurses stranded in Iraq could finally be seen on their faces, as they waited at Kochi Airport for their arrival from Iraq.
Kirti, the sister of one of the Kerala nurses in Iraq, expressed her happiness over the return of her sister who was working there for the past ten months, saying that she has made special arrangements for her welcome.
"We are very happy now, but two days ago, we were very scared, as we didn't have any idea what will happen to them. Whenever she used to call us, she seemed to be very scared, and also told us that she didn't know how the terrorists will behave with them and what they will make them do. Me and my family and all the villagers are very happy, and I want to thank the government for helping us," said Kirti.
Jayarani, a nurse from Kerala, who had stayed in Kurdistan along with her husband for six years, shared her experience of working there as a nurse.
"I was working there, but was advised that it's not safe for me and my child anymore. I returned from Iraq last month. In Iraq, there is a lot of respect for nurses from India, specially from Kerala, that is why Indians go there. But not its not safe anymore," said Jayarani.
The 46 Indian nurses who were being held captive in Iraq are expected to reach home at around 11.45 am today. The Ministry of External Affairs had yesterday said that the 46 nurses been rescued from zone of conflict and would board the flight along with 70 others from Kirkuk.
There were about 10,000 Indians in Iraq before the start of the strife between government troops and Sunni militants. The militants have captured two key cities and have their sights set on Baghdad. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been displaced in the fighting that broke out on June 10.
