Rwandans evacuated from Libya arrive Wednesday

Istanbul - The 23 Rwandans who fled the political unrest in Libya are safe in Istanbul, Turkey, and will arrive at Kigali International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, an official says.Robert Masozera the former Director General of the Diaspora Directorate, now Ambassador designate to Belgium, said, yesterday, he is in regular contact with them. Most are students who were pursuing their studies in Libya.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Istanbul - The 23 Rwandans who fled the political unrest in Libya are safe in Istanbul, Turkey, and will arrive at Kigali International Airport Wednesday afternoon, an official says.

Robert Masozera the former Director General of the Diaspora Directorate, now Ambassador designate to Belgium, said, yesterday, he is in regular contact with them. Most are students who were pursuing their studies in Libya.

"They are in good hands and well catered for –we have an honorary consul in Istanbul who is helping them, but the government of Turkey has been very kind to them,” Masozera said.

"They are leaving Istanbul today (Monday) and will arrive in Kigali via Dar es Salaam. They will arrive here on Wednesday at 1:35 p.m. aboard Rwandair.”

Faced with the rapidly changing events in Libya amidst anti-government protests, Rwanda, last week, approached Turkish authorities to help with the evacuation. 

The Rwandans, along with other Turkish nationals, were evacuated by Turkish planes from Tripoli, to Istanbul, on Saturday.

The group includes 18 university students and a family of five.

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