Four Indian nationals evacuated from Syria arrived at Delhi airport, expressing relief and gratitude to the Indian Embassy for facilitating their return. They praised the embassy’s efforts as part of India’s ongoing mission to protect its citizens caught in the violence in Syria.
One evacuee shared his experience, saying, “I went there 15-20 days ago. We did not expect this to happen. The Indian Embassy evacuated us. First, they took us to Lebanon and then to Goa, and today we have reached Delhi. We are happy to be back in our country. The Indian Embassy helped us a lot. They brought us in a bus from Syria to Lebanon, as flights are not operating in Syria. Then, they arranged a flight from Lebanon to Goa and finally to Delhi.”
Another evacuee recounted the dire conditions in Syria and the critical assistance provided by the embassy: “We were working in Syria for the past four months. One day, while at work, we saw two or three rockets. We immediately informed the embassy, and they instructed us to come to Damascus. After staying there for a day or two, we were moved to a safe zone in Beirut. There was a two-day delay in ticket booking, but the embassy arranged everything, including food, accommodation, and tickets. From Beirut, we traveled to Doha and finally to Delhi. The situation in Syria is very critical, with daily sounds of rockets and bullets. I want to thank the embassy and the Indian government for their support.”
Expressing gratitude, another evacuee said, “We are thankful to Prime Minister Modi and the Indian Embassy for their help. The situation was terrifying. We heard bomb blasts and gunfire for the first time. We are happy and relieved to be back in India.”
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that 77 Indian nationals had been evacuated from Syria as part of India’s efforts to ensure their safety. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted that Indian embassies in the Middle East are in touch with Indian nationals in the region and ready to assist further if needed.
“So far, 77 Indians have been evacuated—those who wanted to return. Many others have settled in the region or are pursuing work and have opted to stay. For those who wish to return, we will facilitate their evacuation. These 77 were evacuated via Lebanon, where our embassies in Syria and Lebanon coordinated closely. The process involved extensive road travel and border immigration procedures. Of the 77, 44 were pilgrims visiting sites in the region, and they have since left Beirut for other destinations. The remaining 30 have either returned to India or are en route,” Jaiswal explained.
He added that while advisories have been issued to Indian nationals in countries like Lebanon and Israel, there is no immediate need for evacuation from other locations. “We are in touch with Indian nationals in Damascus and Lebanon, and our embassies are ready to provide assistance if required. In Israel, where there are 32,000 Indian nationals, our embassy is actively monitoring their welfare. At present, no evacuation plans are in place for these regions,” he noted.
Syria’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, has emphasized repatriating Syrian refugees as a key goal, aiming to restore stability in the war-torn country. The Syrian government continues to face challenges, including unrest such as the recent arson at the tomb of Hafez al-Assad.
