India assists in the evacuation of Maldivian nationals stranded in Egypt

The government of India has assisted in the evacuation of Maldivian nationals stranded in Egypt.

Following the recent unrest in Egypt, the Government of Maldives requested through the High Commission of India in Maldives, for urgent assistance from the Government of India, in evacuating a large number of Maldivian citizens stranded in Egypt.

In response to the Maldivian request conveyed to the highest level in India, the Indian government took immediate steps to fly in the Maldivian nationals from Cairo to Mumbai and then to Male’.

Necessary local arrangements were coordinated by the High Commission of India in Cairo and the Embassy of Maldives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and a special Air-India flight sent yesterday from India airlifted the 104 Maldivian nationals, many of them young students in Cairo, along with some Indians and Mauritians to Mumbai in the early hours of yesterday.

After a brief halt, the Maldivian nationals were transferred to another special flight arranged from Mumbai to Male’. The special flight from Mumbai with all the 104 stranded Maldivian nationals on board, reached GMR Male International Airport today afternoon and the returning Maldivians were received by senior Maldivian dignitaries including Ibrahim Hussein Zaki, Special Envoy of the President and the High Commissioner of India in Maldives, Dnyaneshwar M.Mulay.

Government of India’s quick evacuation of needy Maldivians from danger is in keeping with the long history of prompt and generous Indian assistance to the friendly people of Maldives in times of need.

The close and effective co-ordination between India and Maldives in undertaking the quick evacuation yesterday is also a testimony to the high level of mutual trust and understanding that symbolise the close and cordial relationship between the two countries.