India reaches out to 1,000 nationals stranded in Iran island

NEW DELHI: Besides providing support for nationals, who have tested positive and are currently recuperating in Iran, the Indian government has extended support to 1,000 citizens who are currently in an island of Iran.

"Embassy & #Consulate in Bandar Abbas have started supplying essentials to ~1000 #Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Kerala in Iran’s southern provinces of Bushehr & Hormozgan. Essentials have also been provided to #Indian #fishermen in #Kish #island in #Hormuzgan province," the Embassy of India informed through a tweet.



Iran's Mahan Air on Saturday is expected to bring back the next batch of Indian nationals who have tested negative. Mahan Air has brought back a number of Indians so far. A military aircraft was also used to bring back Indians from Iran.

Dammu Ravi, additional secretary in India’s foreign ministry and coordinator for Covid-19, described the situation in Iran as “very, very grave”. “It is extremely widespread and gone on to the other regions of Iran. So we are assessing that situation and taking into consideration what should be our proper response,” he said Meanwhile, Air India will send a special flight to Rome on Saturday, which will bring back around 230 nationals who have tested negative. So far, 218 Indian nationals who tested negative have been brought back from Italy. Earlier, two Air India special flights were sent to Wuhan besides a military aircraft to bring back nationals.

On Friday, China held a video conference on prevention and control of Covid—19 with the Eurasian and South Asian regions. "Senior Indian officials and scientists from MOHFW and MEA discussed the efforts in combating the epidemic with the Chinese counterparts. China stands ready to cooperate with India in fighting the Covid-19 and provide support and assistance within our capacity," tweeted Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong.

The government has asked nationals in some other countries to stay put during the crisis period. “If Indians are held up in some place, our advice to them would be to stay put because ideally in such a situation they should be able to make do locally with whatever resources they have. Our missions and ambassadors are in the forefront to support the stranded Indians wherever they are,” said Ravi.