Back from Libya: They have a local to thank profusely

Kochi, May 13: For the 18 people who returned from the war torn Libya after being stranded for six months, it was a happy home coming. While there may be a debate between the Kerala and the Union Government who paid for their return, there is one interesting fact that one must bear in mind.

The Indian Embassy in Libya was not exactly helpful. It was a Libyan national who took in the 18 persons of which 11 are children. Their return itself was magical, say Joy A J the father of Nivya who returned to Kerala.

A Libyan helped us

The returnees have vowed not to return to Libya. The situation is bad over there they say. Joy says that he will not let his daughter and her family go back to Libya. Only we know what we have gone through.

"My daugther, my son in law and grand daughter have experienced the worst and we will not let them go back," he says.

While there is a spar on as to who gets the credit for ensuring the return of these 18 persons, what one needs to understand is that the Indian Embassy in Libya was not entirely helpful. Those who returned yesterday have alleged that several times the calls were not answered by them.

With no where to go and none to help, the returnees had become desperate. Finally help came in the form of a Libyan national who they do not want to name for security reasons. He took all of them in and accommodated them in a home around 60 kilometres from the Tripoli airport.

The war is bad out there they say. There was no electricity, water shortage among other problems. Even the journey to the Tripoli airport was a tense one. They finally took the flight out of Tripoli and arrived at India via Istanbul and Dubai.

OneIndia News