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JAM | Feb 23, 2022

Jamaican students in Ukraine didn’t take up offer to get them out, says Johnson Smith

Ategie Edwards

Ategie Edwards / Our Today

Reading Time: 3 minutes
(Photo: Daily Sabah)

Several Jamaican students who were offered assistance from the Jamaican Government to evacuate tension-filled Ukraine, have reportedly rejected that offer and some are now believed to still be in the country.

Kamina Johnson Smith, minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, disclosed that special assistance was offered to students in the form of a loan for airfare, whereby the Government would not only pay, but also book their tickets for their return to the island.

The offer, which was made on February 12 through the Jamaican Embassy in Berlin, was extended to seven students who would have indicated their desire to return home. While initial interest was expressed by these students, they ultimately did not take up the offer.

“We understand that while some students are making private arrangements to travel to other cities in the region until the situation in Ukraine improves, others are cautiously monitoring the situation.”

Kamina Johnson Smith, minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade

“The seven Jamaican students who had indicated their interest in accepting an offer of support from us to purchase tickets for their return home, decided against returning to Jamaica,” Johnson Smith explained.

While the seven students decided against taking up the ministry’s offer, Johnson Smith noted that some have decided to stay, while others have made private arrangements to head elsewhere in the region and others have either left or are in the process of leaving.

“We understand that while some students are making private arrangements to travel to other cities in the region until the situation in Ukraine improves, others are cautiously monitoring the situation,” Johnson Smith said.

“We are aware of eight students who have left thus far, with an additional five travelling from Ukraine over the course of the week.”

Kamina Johnson Smith, minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade.

Understanding the current complexity of travel, Johnson Smith explained that the option is still open, should they later decide to return to the island.

Johnson Smith urged students to take immediate action if they wish to return home, noting that as time progresses, travel may become impossible.

“We have shared options available to them, for example through Turkey, and have highlighted our concern that travel may become more challenging… and would even become impossible should Ukraine’s airspace be closed entirely. Our message to them is that they need to take immediate action if they intend to leave.”

30-DAY STATE OF EMERGENCY

As tensions continue to rise, Ukraine today (February 23) announced plans to declare a 30-day state of emergency as the nation prepares to defend itself from an expected Russian invasion.

Subject to approval from the Ukrainian Government, the state of emergency would impose curfews and restrict mass gatherings in certain regions “if necessary”, to confront increased Russian aggression.

Coupled with plans for a declaration of a state of emergency, the country also faced a new wave of cyberattacks that hit Ukrainian government and banking websites.

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