The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says several students studying in Ukraine declined to use the government’s offer of assistance to help with air fare to return home.
In a statement this morning, the foreign affairs ministry revealed that it made a loan facility available to students to assist with airfare on February 12. However, the ministry says no student took up the offer.
Foreign affairs minister, Kamina Johnson Smith says the offer was made through Jamaica’s embassy in Berlin.
She says the government offered to book and pay for the tickets for their return to Jamaica. According to the minister seven students had requested assistance, but decided not to go that route.
“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 still cautiously monitoring the situation,” said Minister Johnson Smith. “We are aware of eight students who have left thus far, with an additional five travelling from Ukraine over the course of this week”.
Minister Johnson Smith said flights have been cancelled between Ukraine and Berlin. Should students decide to leave the region Minister Johnson Smith says alternative travel can be accessed through Turkey and other places.
But she said travel could become even more complex or impossible should Ukraine airspace be closed.
“Our message to them has been that they need to take immediate action if they intend to leave,” said Minister Johnson Smith.
Minister Johnson Smith said the government is hopeful of a diplomatic solution to de-escalate tensions in the region.
She said the ministry remains actively engaged with the students as well as with their family members in Jamaica. The ministry said it may be contacted via email at consular@mfaft.gov.jm or at consularassist@mfaft.gov.jm, or via WhatsApp at 876- 469-4058.
Tensions between Russia and the Ukraine escalated this week when President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of two separatist regions of Ukraine.
Russia has been issuing visas to people in the Donbas and Luhansk regions, seen as a pretext by observers for Russia to put troops in Ukraine.
The regions have been at war since the Annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Ukraine has urged its citizens to leave Russia “immediately”, the country’s foreign ministry announced on Wednesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also called up reservists aged 18 to 60 for a maximum service of one year, according to Reuters and the BBC.
See full statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade:
