Many Kerala nurses wish to remain in Libya: Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram, July 30 (IANS) There are more than 1,000 nurses from Kerala in Libya, but only 118 have registered to return to India, said Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting, Chandy said the first batch of 50 Kerala nurses will be moved from Tripoli Thursday in a bus to the Tunisian border which is about 155 km from Tripoli and would then be flown in here.

"Those who are staying back are hoping that things would improve. Moreover, they are unsure of their future once they are back and so we have had only this many nurses who are registered to come back," said Chandy.

"We are in close touch with the ministry of external affairs and the Indian ambassador in Libya, who is coordinating with the nurses who are returning," said Chandy.

At the Tripoli Medical Centre alone, there are 350 Kerala nurses and around 60 in a nearby hospital.

There are also many Kerala nurses at various hospitals in Benghazi city.