Special flights likely to ferry Andhra workers from UAE

Hyderabad : With the Sep 2 deadline for deportation of all illegal immigrants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) approaching fast, the Andhra Pradesh government may request New Delhi to operate special flights to ferry its 40,000 workers stranded in the Gulf country.
The government is planning to take up 'evacuation' on a war-footing, similar to the one taken up to bring back workers from Kuwait during the 1991 Gulf War.
About 5,000 workers have come back since the UAE government announced amnesty for those staying illegally, but 40,000 are still in the country.
Energy Minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir, who also looks after NRI affairs, has said the state government may request the civil aviation ministry to operate special flights to bring the workers home. The centre will also be urged to extend the facility of free travel to those stranded.
Shabbir will lead a five-member delegation to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for ensuring safe passage of workers stranded without proper documents.
22/08/07 IANS/NewKerala.com

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Categories: Foreign Aug 2007