Government Returns 129 Stranded Students from Sudan As 22 Others Await Help

A total of 129 students who were stuck in Sudan due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic have finally been evacuated.

The group of lucky returnees aboard a Kenya Airways flight landed at Moi International Airport on Saturday evening and immediately went under a mandatory health check before they proceeded to the Kenya School of Government in the Kizingo area for a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Amid the feeling of relief from their previous predicament, Mr. Salim Bakari, a 2nd-year financial Economics student at the International University of East Africa says it feels sweet to be back home again.

“We really appreciate those who have made our return a reality. Being away from our loved ones has been quite heartbreaking,” Mr. Bakari said.

The Stranded Kenyan Students Always Observed the Covid-19 Precautions

During their stay in Khartoum, they were always indoors as advised, and observed all the other safety precautions to avoid contracting Covid-19. The students who were on scholarships there are from Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, and Lamu counties.

It wasn’t easy, according to Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir, for the students to live in a foreign country during this sensitive period of the pandemic, therefore congratulating them upon their lucky victory and survival. He informed that 83 students from Mombasa had safely arrived, thanks to hard work and cooperation to make this a success.

The country is bound to continue taking more care of the students at the quarantine facility, as remarked by Mombasa county secretary, Dennis Lewa. Also, the county chief officer for health, Dr. Khadijah Shikely said the students will undergo Covid-19 testing and treatment if any case is realized.

“We thank God for the students’ safe flight back home, we have been in communication with the ministry of health and the students will be taken through testing for Covid-19,” Dr. Shikely said.

For the students that come from other counties, she added that they were in touch with them to ensure that the students get there safely.

At least 22 Other Students Still Stranded in Sudan

The Executive director of Muslims for Human rights, Khelef Khalifa applauded the leaders for the job they had executed excellently well, and called upon the North Eastern leaders, notifying them of other stranded students in Sudan, at least 22, urging them to assist in their rescue.

Other leaders like Mr. Patrick Mwavula, president of the Jumuiya ya Wanafunzi wa Pwani appreciated all the leaders that supported the cause.

“We should not entirely depend on the national government but look at our local government for solutions,” Mr. Mwavula remarked.

Because the air tickets were too expensive for the students to afford, they decided to appeal to the government to rescue them.

Watch the Video Report on the Return of the 129 Stranded Students from Sudan As 22 Others Await Help

Video Courtesy of NTV/Youtube.