In the first batch of evacuation of Indian nurses from strife-torn Libya, 44 Keralite nurses arrived here this morning from Dubai.
The nurses were brought by bus from Tunisia to Dubai where they boarded a scheduled Emirates flight to Kochi at 3.30 a.m., airport officials said here.
The nurses were working at various hospitals in Libya.
The 44 were among 58 nurses who had reached Tunisia from Tripoli two days ago. Another batch of 43 nurses had reached the Tunisian border yesterday.
The Kerala Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, had written to the External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, on August 1 seeking the Centre’s help in arranging flight for facilitating the return of the nurses.
Fighting between rival militias in Tripoli over the past three weeks and clashes between Islamists and army in the eastern city of Benghazi have prompted several countries to evacuate their nationals and diplomatic staff.
Last month, 46 nurses, who were held captive by ISIS militants in Iraq, returned home by a special Air India Flight here bringing an end to their about month-long trauma.