All the 46 Indian nurses, who were stranded in Tikrit city of Iraq, have been forced to move out from the building they were staying in by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, ISIS
. Briefing media in New Delhi today, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin , said the nurses moved for their own safety as there is no freewill in a conflict zone. Asked if they are hurt, he said some of them have suffered minor injuries caused by breaking of glass. The rest are unharmed and safe. Akbaruddin said the Indian Mission is in touch with the nurses even as they moved to another location.

The spokesperson said that 39 other Indian nationals, who are in capitivity, are unharmed. He informed that about 900 nationals have been provided tickets to fly out of Iraq. He said nearly 1500 nationals in Karbala, Najaf and Basra have registered to depart the country. Some Indians in Erbil have also indicated their willingness to leave.

Akbaruddin said Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi earlier today on the issue of the nurses. They discussed options to find a way out of the difficulty.