THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Seventy-four nurses from Kerala working at the Baghdad Medical City are in two minds - whether or not to return to India - following the violence in the Middle East nation, a nurse said Monday.
The nurse told IANS over phone from Baghdad that at the moment things were normal where the nurses were located, and the situation remains as it was when they arrived in January.
"Occasionally, we hear sounds of explosions... and by now, we know when a car bomb has exploded. This has been like this since we came. If you ask us, right now things are the same as we first came, so honestly we are in two minds," the nurse said.
The 74 nurses reached Baghdad in two groups. While some of them have been there for 18 months, the rest reached there in January.
"If there are no issues here, we want to be here and working. If not, we want to return. Even though we came here in January, we inked our contract in September 2013 and now the management is asking us to sign the next contract and our deadline is fast approaching," the nurse said.
She said they stay in the large hospital compound, and venture out only to send money to Kerala once in two months.
"And for that, we take the help of the hospital security staff, who accompany us to the money exchange house. If not, we are always inside the hospital compound. We have cafeteria facilities inside the campus itself and there are shops too," she said.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Monday said in the state assembly that if any Keralites in Iraq wants to return, they will be brought back by the government.
UAE-based Indian entrepreneur offers jobs to rescued nurses
DUBAI: The 46 Indian nurses rescued from a hospital in northern Iraq's war zone have been offered job opportunities in India and Arabian Gulf countries by United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Indian entrepreneur Azad Moopen, a company statement said.
"We will recruit these repatriated and devastated nurses on priority at Aster Medcity, Kochi, MIMS Hospitals at Calicut and Kottakkal, and DM WIMS Medical College Hospital in Wayanad," Moopen, chairman of the Dubai-based Aster DM Healthcare, said in a statement.
"For those interested to return to the Middle East, we will accommodate them in our hospitals and clinics in the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia if they fulfill official requirements," the statement added.
The physician-turned NRI entrepreneur from Kerala has also offered cash assistance of Rs.25,000 (around $419) to each of the 46 nurses to meet their immediate requirements.
Moopen, who is also a director of the Kerala government's department for Non-Resident Keralites' Affairs (Norka), is the second UAE-based Indian to offer jobs to the nurses after Abu Dhabi-based NMC group head B.R. Shetty made a similar offer Saturday.
Moopen also lauded the efforts of the Indian government and the Kerala state government for bringing back the nurses and hundreds of workers safely from Iraq.
The statement asked the interested assistance seekers to register for jobs and collect financial assistance from Aster Medcity in Kochi.
Moopen especially appreciated the efforts of Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy, who acted very promptly to address the issues, and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for providing the necessary support.
Aster DM Healthcare employs about 4500 people in India and 5,000 abroad in over 170 establishments across the world, the statement said.
"We will recruit these repatriated and devastated nurses on priority at Aster Medcity, Kochi, MIMS Hospitals at Calicut and Kottakkal, and DM WIMS Medical College Hospital in Wayanad," Moopen, chairman of the Dubai-based Aster DM Healthcare, said in a statement.
"For those interested to return to the Middle East, we will accommodate them in our hospitals and clinics in the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia if they fulfill official requirements," the statement added.
The physician-turned NRI entrepreneur from Kerala has also offered cash assistance of Rs.25,000 (around $419) to each of the 46 nurses to meet their immediate requirements.
Moopen, who is also a director of the Kerala government's department for Non-Resident Keralites' Affairs (Norka), is the second UAE-based Indian to offer jobs to the nurses after Abu Dhabi-based NMC group head B.R. Shetty made a similar offer Saturday.
Moopen also lauded the efforts of the Indian government and the Kerala state government for bringing back the nurses and hundreds of workers safely from Iraq.
The statement asked the interested assistance seekers to register for jobs and collect financial assistance from Aster Medcity in Kochi.
Moopen especially appreciated the efforts of Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy, who acted very promptly to address the issues, and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for providing the necessary support.
Aster DM Healthcare employs about 4500 people in India and 5,000 abroad in over 170 establishments across the world, the statement said.
Child labour in Capital: Child line rescues six children
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Child line volunteers rescued six children from a sweet factory in the City on Monday. The rescued children are Surya, Muthu Raj, Mari Selvam, Ramar Kalinjam, Karthikeyan, and Ramkumar. For the past one month they have been working in the sweet shop at Konjiravila. They all hail from Thirunelveli and are below 15.
Following a tip off through Child Line Number1098, the workers, Manuel George and Christi Abraham, conducted an inspection in the factory and found out the under age children working in pitiable condition. Though the children said they had not been physically tortured, some of them had burns on their hands.
There were 14 children working in the factory owned by one Victor. Out of that six children are minors. The six children have been shifted to Don Bosco shelter home.
Following a tip off through Child Line Number1098, the workers, Manuel George and Christi Abraham, conducted an inspection in the factory and found out the under age children working in pitiable condition. Though the children said they had not been physically tortured, some of them had burns on their hands.
There were 14 children working in the factory owned by one Victor. Out of that six children are minors. The six children have been shifted to Don Bosco shelter home.
137 other Indians reach home from Iraq, 200 more on way
HYDERABAD/KOCHI: Ending days of tension and uncertainty, 183 Indians stranded in strife-torn Iraq, including the 46 nurses from Kerala who were freed by Iraqi insurgents, arrived home Saturday to a grand welcome while 200 more were on their way.
A special Air India flight from Erbil, capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region, carrying the 183 landed in Kochi close to noon with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his cabinet colleagues, legislators, Lok Sabha members and state government officials waiting to receive them.
A group of 78 people from various parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, including nurses and construction workers in Iraq, later reached Hyderabad by the special flight and officials were making arrangements to send them to their respective hometowns.
The external affairs ministry said that another 200 Indians to Delhi will return Saturday night by a special Iraqi Airways chartered flight from Najaf.
In the next 48 hours, approximately another 400 Indians would be returning to various destinations, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad, through commercial flights, said ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin.
About 1,200 Indians would have returned to India at government cost by Monday, while the Indian mission in Baghdad has been able to persuade Iraqi companies to send back approximately 600 other Indian nationals, while processing papers for 400 others.
Welcoming return of Kerala nurses from Iraq, Congress leader Amarinder Singh Saturday urged the government to intensify its efforts for freeing 39 Indians, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, being held hostage in Mosul.
At Kochi, arrangements were made for three family members of each nurse to go inside the airport to receive them. A special immigration desk was set up for them. It was a mad scramble, with anxious family members hugging and kissing their dear ones.
While some cried in happiness, others were seen clutching the hands of toddlers, most of them children of these nurses, who for the past nearly three weeks never imagined such an arrival.
Sandra Sebastian, one of the nurses, told the media at Kochi airport that she was very scared when they were taken away by the insurgents. "... very afraid... will not go back," she said in broken English.
Chandy earlier said that at one point of time, he had lost all hope as the plane did not get permission to land in Erbil because of strong winds. He thanked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for all her efforts.
Reports earlier said many nurses protested at Erbil airport, saying they won't board the plane unless they are paid their four months' salary arrears but finally agreed after Indian officials persuaded them.
Seena, a nurse from Kannur, said for 23 days they lived in isolation at Tikrit, their workplace.
"Our patience was running out... gun-toting men came to our building in the hospital campus Thursday. They asked us to pack our things and all they gave us was 15 minutes.
"We were told to enter one of the four buses parked outside... and in a few minutes, we saw the first and third floor of our building go up in flames," she said. Another nurse said, "never in our dreams, we thought that these armed men would be our saviours".
"We had no clue... whether they were going to kill us or they would be our saviours."On our eight-hour drive to Mosul, the kind behaviour of these people surprised all of us," adding they stopped at many places and gave the nurses water, biscuits and food. Another nurse could not hide her happiness on being back with her family.
She said they came to know that the armed men represented the newly-formed 'government' of Mosul and that the nurses were a bit taken aback when they said many of the men with guns were doctors.
"Once in Mosul, they put us in a big room and we were given beds and food. We feel that the new government there helped us reach here safely. We thank each and everyone who prayed for our return and also all the authorities who helped us," she said.
The Kerala government made arrangements for the nurses to travel in hired vehicles, while the lone nurse from Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu was provided with a railway ticket to her home town.
The plane had earlier landed in Mumbai for refuelling and for taking aboard food for the passengers.
Meanwhile, UAE-based Indian businessman B.R. Shetty offered the 46 nurses jobs in hospitals he owns across the Gulf country, Nepal, Bhutan and India. In advertisements in Kerala newspapers, he asked the nurses to contact his office if interested.
A special Air India flight from Erbil, capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region, carrying the 183 landed in Kochi close to noon with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his cabinet colleagues, legislators, Lok Sabha members and state government officials waiting to receive them.
A group of 78 people from various parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, including nurses and construction workers in Iraq, later reached Hyderabad by the special flight and officials were making arrangements to send them to their respective hometowns.
The external affairs ministry said that another 200 Indians to Delhi will return Saturday night by a special Iraqi Airways chartered flight from Najaf.
In the next 48 hours, approximately another 400 Indians would be returning to various destinations, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad, through commercial flights, said ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin.
About 1,200 Indians would have returned to India at government cost by Monday, while the Indian mission in Baghdad has been able to persuade Iraqi companies to send back approximately 600 other Indian nationals, while processing papers for 400 others.
Welcoming return of Kerala nurses from Iraq, Congress leader Amarinder Singh Saturday urged the government to intensify its efforts for freeing 39 Indians, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, being held hostage in Mosul.
At Kochi, arrangements were made for three family members of each nurse to go inside the airport to receive them. A special immigration desk was set up for them. It was a mad scramble, with anxious family members hugging and kissing their dear ones.
While some cried in happiness, others were seen clutching the hands of toddlers, most of them children of these nurses, who for the past nearly three weeks never imagined such an arrival.
Sandra Sebastian, one of the nurses, told the media at Kochi airport that she was very scared when they were taken away by the insurgents. "... very afraid... will not go back," she said in broken English.
Chandy earlier said that at one point of time, he had lost all hope as the plane did not get permission to land in Erbil because of strong winds. He thanked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for all her efforts.
Reports earlier said many nurses protested at Erbil airport, saying they won't board the plane unless they are paid their four months' salary arrears but finally agreed after Indian officials persuaded them.
Seena, a nurse from Kannur, said for 23 days they lived in isolation at Tikrit, their workplace.
"Our patience was running out... gun-toting men came to our building in the hospital campus Thursday. They asked us to pack our things and all they gave us was 15 minutes.
"We were told to enter one of the four buses parked outside... and in a few minutes, we saw the first and third floor of our building go up in flames," she said. Another nurse said, "never in our dreams, we thought that these armed men would be our saviours".
"We had no clue... whether they were going to kill us or they would be our saviours."On our eight-hour drive to Mosul, the kind behaviour of these people surprised all of us," adding they stopped at many places and gave the nurses water, biscuits and food. Another nurse could not hide her happiness on being back with her family.
She said they came to know that the armed men represented the newly-formed 'government' of Mosul and that the nurses were a bit taken aback when they said many of the men with guns were doctors.
"Once in Mosul, they put us in a big room and we were given beds and food. We feel that the new government there helped us reach here safely. We thank each and everyone who prayed for our return and also all the authorities who helped us," she said.
The Kerala government made arrangements for the nurses to travel in hired vehicles, while the lone nurse from Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu was provided with a railway ticket to her home town.
The plane had earlier landed in Mumbai for refuelling and for taking aboard food for the passengers.
Meanwhile, UAE-based Indian businessman B.R. Shetty offered the 46 nurses jobs in hospitals he owns across the Gulf country, Nepal, Bhutan and India. In advertisements in Kerala newspapers, he asked the nurses to contact his office if interested.
Neymar ruled out of World Cup with fractured vertebrae
FORTALEZA: Brazil lost superstar striker Neymar for the World Cup after he fractured a vertebrae during his side's 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal win over Colombia.
Colombia defender Juan Zuniga kneed the 22-year-old Neymar in a crunching tackle and the Barcelona player was stretchered off in agony in the closing minutes of the game in Forteleza.
The injury and the suspension of captain Thiago Silva for the semifinal against Germany overshadowed a sensational David Luiz goal that sealed victory in one of the most physical games seen at this World Cup.
A hospital exam "showed he suffered a fracture of the third vertebra" in his back, team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told reporters.
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari fumed that Neymar has been "hunted" throughout the tournament and that no punishment was given for the tackle on him.
"I have been saying for three matches that Neymar has been hunted, but all the other countries say it is not true and it is only their players that are hunted."
Silva was booked for a second time in the tournament for impeding a clearance by Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.
But in Zuniga's case "there was not even a yellow card and Thiago got a yellow card for nothing," Scolari said.
Brazil are in the World Cup semifinals for the first time in 12 years, but Scolari, who has vowed his side will win their sixth World Cup, now faces a major crisis.
Silva put Brazil ahead after seven minutes and Luiz scored a sensational 30 metre free kick to give Brazil victory.
Colombia's James Rodriguez extended his lead as the tournament's top scorer with his sixth goal in five games from the penalty spot after Julio Cesar brought down Carlos Bacca.
But Colombia now leave and Brazil must now prepare without Neymar and key defender Silva for only their second World Cup meeting with Germany in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday. The Germans beat France 1-0 earlier in the day.
Luiz's goal was another special moment in the World Cup. "Today It was great because I hit the exact point where the ball can go many ways and it is difficult for the goalkeeper," said Luiz.
And the Paris St Germain defender said Brazil had the replacements in Dante and Henrique to cope with the absence of his club teammate Silva.
"We have two players that are great players and that have prepared to play just like Thiago and myself.
Colombia also complained about Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo. "The referee did not help," said Rodriguez who suffered in marking but was himself booked for a tackle on Brazil's Hulk.
Roared off on by a fervent home crowd, the hosts made a fast start and were ahead inside seven minutes.
Just as in their last 16 clash with Chile, a Neymar corner kick finished at the back post and Silva escaped defender Carlos Sanchez to bundle the ball home.
Silva then had defensive duties as he got the slightest of touches to Juan Cuadrado's drive to turn it behind as Colombia tried to react.
Colombia could have fallen further behind as Ospina got down well to parry Hulk's effort before making a more comfortable save from Oscar.
Chances at both ends dried up in the second-half, despite the game still being played at a frenetic pace.
Brazil were dealt a huge blow when Silva was booked for barging into Ospina as he sought to clear the ball. Scolari covered his head in his hands.
Brazilian nerves were settled in the 69th minute when Luiz sent a wonderful dipping free-kick high past Ospina from fully 30 metres.
Yet, Colombia were back in the game 10 minutes from time when substitute Carlos Bacca was upended by Julio Cesar inside the area.
The Brazil goalkeeper was lucky just to see a yellow card from Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo. But he could do nothing to stop Rodriguez rolling home his sixth goal of the tournament from the resulting penalty.
Scolari's men saw out the final few minutes, but disaster struck when Zuniga's knee hit Neymar's back two minutes from the end of a game which saw dozens of heavy handed challenges.
Colombia defender Juan Zuniga kneed the 22-year-old Neymar in a crunching tackle and the Barcelona player was stretchered off in agony in the closing minutes of the game in Forteleza.
The injury and the suspension of captain Thiago Silva for the semifinal against Germany overshadowed a sensational David Luiz goal that sealed victory in one of the most physical games seen at this World Cup.
A hospital exam "showed he suffered a fracture of the third vertebra" in his back, team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told reporters.
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari fumed that Neymar has been "hunted" throughout the tournament and that no punishment was given for the tackle on him.
"I have been saying for three matches that Neymar has been hunted, but all the other countries say it is not true and it is only their players that are hunted."
Silva was booked for a second time in the tournament for impeding a clearance by Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.
But in Zuniga's case "there was not even a yellow card and Thiago got a yellow card for nothing," Scolari said.
Brazil are in the World Cup semifinals for the first time in 12 years, but Scolari, who has vowed his side will win their sixth World Cup, now faces a major crisis.
Silva put Brazil ahead after seven minutes and Luiz scored a sensational 30 metre free kick to give Brazil victory.
Colombia's James Rodriguez extended his lead as the tournament's top scorer with his sixth goal in five games from the penalty spot after Julio Cesar brought down Carlos Bacca.
But Colombia now leave and Brazil must now prepare without Neymar and key defender Silva for only their second World Cup meeting with Germany in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday. The Germans beat France 1-0 earlier in the day.
Luiz's goal was another special moment in the World Cup. "Today It was great because I hit the exact point where the ball can go many ways and it is difficult for the goalkeeper," said Luiz.
And the Paris St Germain defender said Brazil had the replacements in Dante and Henrique to cope with the absence of his club teammate Silva.
"We have two players that are great players and that have prepared to play just like Thiago and myself.
Colombia also complained about Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo. "The referee did not help," said Rodriguez who suffered in marking but was himself booked for a tackle on Brazil's Hulk.
Roared off on by a fervent home crowd, the hosts made a fast start and were ahead inside seven minutes.
Just as in their last 16 clash with Chile, a Neymar corner kick finished at the back post and Silva escaped defender Carlos Sanchez to bundle the ball home.
Silva then had defensive duties as he got the slightest of touches to Juan Cuadrado's drive to turn it behind as Colombia tried to react.
Colombia could have fallen further behind as Ospina got down well to parry Hulk's effort before making a more comfortable save from Oscar.
Chances at both ends dried up in the second-half, despite the game still being played at a frenetic pace.
Brazil were dealt a huge blow when Silva was booked for barging into Ospina as he sought to clear the ball. Scolari covered his head in his hands.
Brazilian nerves were settled in the 69th minute when Luiz sent a wonderful dipping free-kick high past Ospina from fully 30 metres.
Yet, Colombia were back in the game 10 minutes from time when substitute Carlos Bacca was upended by Julio Cesar inside the area.
The Brazil goalkeeper was lucky just to see a yellow card from Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo. But he could do nothing to stop Rodriguez rolling home his sixth goal of the tournament from the resulting penalty.
Scolari's men saw out the final few minutes, but disaster struck when Zuniga's knee hit Neymar's back two minutes from the end of a game which saw dozens of heavy handed challenges.
25 harrowing days and nights
ETTUMANOOR: It was 25 harrowing days and nights for those Kerala nurses who had been under virtual captivation of Iraqi rebels. But nothing as feared by them happened and this sensational episode ends on a happy note, the nurses speaks well of the rebels.
Sonia and Veena from Ettumanoor reached an Iraqi hospital ten months ago. They said though the nurses were aware of the fighting going on between Iraqi soldiers and rebels, they were not aware of the fact that the rebels had captured Tikrit. It was only through TV news that they came to know about what was happening. They confirmed it when they saw rebels replacing government security officials deployed at the hospital.
The rebels entered the hospital last week as the situation became tense. Their main intention was to prepare food and have it from inside the hospital. Notably, the nurses said, right from the beginning, the rebels treated them well and never ever misbehaved with them. The food prepared by the nurses was also given to the rebel soldiers. At a point, the nurses even suspected whether the rebels would use them as human shields to facilitate their (rebels’) escape.
From the beginning the rebels took a stand to help the nurses escape from the war-torn area, thanks to Central/State government for putting proper pressure through diplomatic channels. In order to ensure the safety of nurses, when fighting became intense, they were provided a safe haven in under-ground cells. On their way to Mosul they were provided with sufficient food, water and toilet facilities. Their passport and other documents were returned to them when war-like situation worsened.
The nurses had feared whether they would be taken to Mosul general hospital to treat wounded rebel soldiers. But now, they are thankful to God for nothing of that sort happening.
Sonia and Veena from Ettumanoor reached an Iraqi hospital ten months ago. They said though the nurses were aware of the fighting going on between Iraqi soldiers and rebels, they were not aware of the fact that the rebels had captured Tikrit. It was only through TV news that they came to know about what was happening. They confirmed it when they saw rebels replacing government security officials deployed at the hospital.
The rebels entered the hospital last week as the situation became tense. Their main intention was to prepare food and have it from inside the hospital. Notably, the nurses said, right from the beginning, the rebels treated them well and never ever misbehaved with them. The food prepared by the nurses was also given to the rebel soldiers. At a point, the nurses even suspected whether the rebels would use them as human shields to facilitate their (rebels’) escape.
From the beginning the rebels took a stand to help the nurses escape from the war-torn area, thanks to Central/State government for putting proper pressure through diplomatic channels. In order to ensure the safety of nurses, when fighting became intense, they were provided a safe haven in under-ground cells. On their way to Mosul they were provided with sufficient food, water and toilet facilities. Their passport and other documents were returned to them when war-like situation worsened.
The nurses had feared whether they would be taken to Mosul general hospital to treat wounded rebel soldiers. But now, they are thankful to God for nothing of that sort happening.
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