The Gambia government has been urged to explain evacuation plans for stranded Gambians in conflict hit Ukraine.
Honorable Saikouba Marong, the National Assembly member for Latrikunda Sabiji constituency asked Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Minister who was not present in the house to tell the nation about their plans for the Gambian nationals stranded in the east European nation.
Saying “Madam Speaker, the last thing I want to talk is: we all know the crisis in Ukraine and we have some international students that are from The Gambia there. We want to know what government of The Gambia plan for those people,” he asked.
“And not only that Madam Speaker, the plights of our Gambians in Germany, we want the government to be clear and tell us what is happening. You cannot have two Ministers saying this and the other saying that. We cannot have a system that operates like this,” he added.
The lawmaker’s demand comes six days into Russia’s invasion into Ukraine that forced thousands of people including non-Ukrainians to flee the country.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad issued a statement that: “thirty-two 32 Gambians have been successfully evacuated from conflict in Ukraine. Twenty-two are in Poland and eight in Slovakia, one in Romania with his Ukrainian wife and child and one in Budapest, Hungary.”
According to the statement, the government will facilitate the return of the evacuated Gambians back home. This information has been communicated to all concerned.
“However, the decision to return to The Gambia or make alternative arrangements is an individual prerogative which shall be respected by the Embassy and, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This offer only is provided to those who report for it,” the statement added.