Family News Service

Tmt. Thanabalasingam Nishanthini, a Srilankan refugee who missed her brother during war in Srilanka had continued her search worldwide for the past 8 months she could not hear anything about the fate of her brother. On Friday, Apr 9, 2010 at 11:44 AM she received a phone call from Indian Red Cross Society Tamil Nadu Branch and give them a good news about her brother.

Thiru. Thanabalasingam Muralitharan, who tried to reach France through Uzbekistan, was captured by the Uzbekistan immigration department and kept in refugee camp due for improper documents to crossing the border. Now he send a Red Cross Message through ICRC and he expressing about his health and safety with his brother in Law at TASHKENT,in Uzbekistan.

This Red Cross Message was handed over to Mrs. Thanabalasingam Nishanthini and family. They were very happy to receive the message and expressed their immense gratitude to Red Cross Society. Reply messages were collected with family photographs from Mrs. Thanabalasingam Nishanthini & Satheesan’s family and were forwarded to Indian Red Cross Society, NHQ, New Delhi to send back to Uzbekistan.

During November 2010 , once again they received a reply through Red Cross Message from Uzbekistan , that they are going to released from the custody of Uzbekistan Government and they seek support for the repatriation through Red Cross. This information was discussed with Mrs. Pooja Kukde , FNS coordinator , New Delhi and Mr.Nicolas Bechmann , Delegation , Protection Department ICRC , New Delhi . All the efforts were started for the repatriation through ICRC via Indian Red Cross Society, National Head Quarters, New Delhi to fix the date for repatriation. The date for repatriation was fixed on 14.12.2010.

Efforts are taken to mobilize the funds for the tickets from the relatives of the detainees by the Tracing Officer IRCS Tamil Nadu. Suddenly, there was a problem with one Mr. Satheesan, Srilankan National’s passport’s validity was expired. After getting proper renewal only they may able to get the exit permit from Uzbekistan. ICRC takes many efforts to renew the passport. Unfortunately there is no Srilankan Embassy in Uzbekistan, hence the passport was sent to Moscow Srilankan Embassy by the ICRC and they got renewal of the passport. In India still the family faced the hardship to buy the Air ticket. There is no service available to purchase the E- Ticket in Uzbekistan Airlines in India. Hence, it was finally decided to send the E money transfer to Mr. Muralitharan at Uzbekistan, for the purchase of tickets.

On the day of departure (14.12.2010) , Mr. Satheesan got his valid passport from the ICRC and they purchased the tickets from Uzbekistan Airlines (from Uzbekistan to Srilanka via New Delhi ) The Uzbekistan Airlines reached Delhi at 02.45 AM(14.12.2010) next flight to Srilanka on 14.10 PM (Afternoon of 14.12.2010) and it reached Srilanka at 17.35 PM on the same day. Mr. Muralitharan and Mr. Satheesan reached Srilanka and they were received by their parents and other family members at Srilanka . Everyone got cheer with tears. Mr. Muralitharan and Mr. Satheesan were informed their arrival to their family members in India.

On 17.01.2011 Mr Satheesan reached Tamil Nadu and met his wife and his son . That was an emotional filled moment. Mr. Satheesan and family members met the tracing officer, at Indian Red Cross Society , Tamil Nadu Branch and conveyed their gratitude to ICRC and IRCS for the great efforts to communication re-establishment through Red Cross Messages, repatriation and Family reunification after 2 years.

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