Evans Soneka, 23, first Zambian student in Ukraine crosses into Poland and welcomed by Zambian Embassy staff in Berlin.
The Zambian students have started arriving in Poland. So far, 17 girls are with the embassy staff from Berlin in Poland. 6 others are just completing border checks.
Republic of Zambia
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
PRESS STATEMENT BY HON. STANLEY K. KAKUBO, M.P, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, ON THE ONGOING EVACUATION OF ZAMBIANS FROM UKRAINE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
26th February, 2022
I WOULD LIKE TO UPDATE THE NATION WHERE THE GOVERNMENT IS REGARDING THE EVACUATION OF OUR NATIONALS OUT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UKRAINE.
FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIVE GIVEN BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY TASKED WITH THE EXECUTION OF THIS IMPORTANT EXERCISE HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO ENSURE THAT ALL OUR NATIONALS ARE SAFELY REPATRIATED FROM THAT COUNTRY.
THIS INCLUDES THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AS THE FOCAL MINISTRY, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION UNIT, UNDER THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT, MINISTRY OF FINANCE, AMONG OTHERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM THE NATION OF GOVERNMENT’S EVACUATION PLAN:
- A PLANE IS STATIONED IN WARSAW, POLAND TO TRANSPORT OUR NATIONALS TO ZAMBIA
- THE RENDEZVOUS FOR THOSE CLOSER TO THE POLISH BORDER ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF UKRAINE IS THE TRAIN STATION IN LVIV AT DVIRTSEVA SQUARE.
- ALL NATIONALS AT LVIV WILL MOVE TOWARDS THE POLISH BORDER AT HREBENNE
- AN OPTION IS ALSO BEING EXPLORED TO MOVE DIRECTLY TO WARSAW, POLAND BY TRAIN FROM LVIV, SHOULD TRAIN SERVICES RESUME.
- THE ZAMBIAN STAFF FROM THE EMBASSY IN BERLIN, GERMANY AND THE HONORARY CONSUL TO POLAND ARE STATIONED AT THE POLISH BORDER TO RECEIVE OUR NATIONALS, AS AND WHEN THEY ARRIVE.
- VISA WAIVERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ARRANGED
- THOSE CLOSER TO THE BORDER WITH RUSSIA, WILL BE COORDINATED AND ASSISTED BY OUR EMBASSY STAFF IN MOSCOW.
- FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION ON THIS EVACUATION EXERCISE, ALL OUR NATIONALS IN UKRAINE WERE REQUESTED TO JOIN THE MEDIA PLATFORM CREATED BY THE EMBASSY.
I WISH TO INFORM THE PUBLIC THAT MOVEMENT OF OUR NATIONALS WITHIN UKRAINE IS BEING CONDUCTED IN A COORDINATED MANNER, GIVEN THE FACT THAT OUR NATIONALS ARE SPREAD ACROSS DIFFERENT CITIES.
IN TERMS OF SHELTER ACROSS THE BORDER IN POLAND, CONDUCIVE FACILITIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED AND SECURED WHERE OUR NATIONALS SHALL AWAIT FINAL EVACUATION OUT OF POLAND.
THERE ARE CHALLENGES THAT OUR EMBASSY STAFF HAVE BEEN FACING ESPECIALLY THAT THE BOARDING OF BUSES TO THE BORDER, WHICH IS BEING COORDINATED BY THE AUTHORITIES IN UKRAINE, IS BEING PRIORITISED FOR THE ELDERLY, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
FORTUNATELY, THE MAJORITY OF OUR NATIONALS HAVE BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR, AND THE BREAK-DOWN IS AS FOLLOWS;
• 1 AT POLISH BORDER
• 29 AT THE UKRAINE BORDER CHECK POINTS NEAR HREBENNE
• 14 IN SUMY
• 14 IN POLTARVA
• 16 IN KHARKOV
• 7 IN IVANO
• 15 IN LVIV, AT THE TRAIN STATION, AND FINALLY
• 45 ARE IN TRANSIT TOWARDS LVIV
WE ARE ENGAGING VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS IN UKRAINE, POLAND AND RUSSIA TO FACILITATE THE MOVEMENT OF OUR NATIONALS OUT OF THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF UKRAINE.
THE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF THE ANXIETIES, CONCERNS, AND INDEED FRUSTRATIONS BEING FACED BY PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF OUR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAD ALREADY MADE THEIR WAY TO THE POLISH BORDER AND SADLY HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT ALONG THE WAY.
FELLOW CITIZENS, THE WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD ARE HARSH. OUR CHILDREN ARE SCARED. OUR CHILDREN ARE ANXIOUS. OUR CHILDREN ARE FACING CHALLENGES.
WE WOULD LIKE, THEREFORE, TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS AND THE NATION AT LARGE TO WORK WITH GOVERNMENT AS WE COORDINATE THE EVACUATION OF OUR NATIONALS BACK TO ZAMBIA.
ANY ENQUIRIES THAT THE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS MAY HAVE, SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED THROUGH THE PERMANENT SECRETARY (IR&C) MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.
I WISH TO REITERATE THAT, AT THIS MOMENT, IT IS THE TOP PRIORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THE SAFE EVACUATION OF ALL OUR ZAMBIAN NATIONALS OUT OF UKRAINE, BACK TO ZAMBIA IN LINE WITH THE DIRECTIVES FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA.
YOUR GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO EXPLORE, EVEN UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, ALL MEANS POSSIBLE, TO GET OUR CHILDREN ACROSS THE BORDER INTO POLAND.
THE MINISTRY, THEREFORE, WOULD LIKE TO HUMBLY REQUEST MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF THE STUDENTS, TO REMAIN CALM AND PATIENT AS THE GOVERNMENT EXECUTES THIS VERY CHALLENGING AND COMPLICATED EXERCISE.
LET US ALL REMAIN PRAYERFUL. WE SHALL OVERCOME THIS DIFFICULT SITUATION.
(ORIGINAL SIGNED)
HON. STANLEY K. KAKUBO, M.P
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
LUSAKA
26TH FEBRUARY, 2022