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Foreign ministry requests academic leave for Iraqi students in Ukraine

PM:05:25:24/02/2022

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SULAIMANI — The Spokesman for the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, Ahmed al-Sahaf, said on Thursday the ministry was continuing to follow up with the status of Iraqi students in Ukraine and other members of the community in the country.

Sahaf said in a statement to NRT Arabic that the foreign ministry has been following the developments in Ukraine for more than 20 days and continues to keep up with the situation of the Iraqi community in the country, which includes about 5,500 Iraqi citizens across the different regions of Ukraine.

The spokesman said Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein had indicated the importance of determining the safety and security of the Iraqi community in Ukraine but stated the ministry has not yet received requests to repatriate Iraqi citizens from the country or to transport them out of Ukrainian territory. He added the Iraqi embassy has set up hotlines for emergency contact

Sahaf told state media the embassy of Iraq requested universities in Ukraine to allow Iraqi students emergency academic leave due to the security situation, as well as to provide detailed information on the number of Iraqi students and their status.

Khozga Fuad, a Kurdish student studying in Ukraine, told NRT on Thursday students had previously asked the Iraqi government to take their studies online but had not received a response. She stated she and friends of hers studying in Kyiv had to leave the city to protect their lives.

The student said the Iraqi government had informed her on Thursday those who wish to return to Iraq will have their travel facilitated.

The embassy has warned Iraqi citizens in Ukraine to exercise caution and to not travel to eastern Ukraine.

Sahaf said members of the Iraqi diplomatic mission in Kyiv have taken measure to ensure the mission’s security.

(NRT Digital Media)