Naidu holds conference with AP students stranded in Ukraine, assures help

The students shared their problems regarding uncertainty about evacuation, lack of accommodation, shortage of food, rising costs of travel, and money exchange problems. The TDP chief told the students it would take two to three days to get some clarity on the overall evacuation logistics. He asked them to pass on their details to the TDP NRI cell. It will soon open a website to provide them help, Mr. Naidu said.

He assured the students that he would keep a constant watch and take up the issue with the government of India and the Indian embassy. "Though the TDP is not in power in AP, it will do everything possible to rescue everyone. The students should constantly evaluate their risk factors. They should take help only from reliable groups and agencies," said Mr. Naidu.

Stating that there might be pressure to join the fight, he said the students should understand that their safety is very important. He advised them to move out of the bunkers, metro stations, and present locations only when there is reliable support to shift them to the borders.

Students said those stranded in the eastern parts of Ukraine were facing difficulty in evacuation. They were not finding vehicles to travel 1,200-1,500 km to reach the borders and return via Romania, Hungary, or other countries. One student said local alerts were being made in Russian and they were having communication problems. Priority in the evacuation was also important and immediate help should be given to those in high-risk zones, the students said.