Banjul, Gambia - The Public Relations Officer of the Gambia Immigration Department, Ensa Jawara, has confirmed the arrival of 164 Gambian youths, who were stranded in Libya in the wake of the political unrest that hit the north African state, saying that five of the returnees sustained minor injuries, the Banjul-based Foroyaa newspaper reported Friday. Over 600 Gambians were trapped in Libya and this is the first batch to be evacuated since the unrest started in Libya.

The returnees were received on arrival at the Banjul International Airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Momadou Tangara, Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, Njogu Bah, and the Director General of Immigration, Buba Saayang.

According to Jawara, the 164 Gambian youths arrived on board a special flight hired by the Gambian government to evacuate its citizens from Libya.

He said the five returnees that sustained minor injuries were attended to by medical and Red Cross personnel and he could not say the cause of their injuries but added that the injuries were not life threatening.

According to him, all the returnees were screened and those that could not locate their families or relatives on time would be in the care of the Immigration Department.

He assured Gambians that the government was doing everything possible to get all its citizens back home safely.

Pana 13/03/2011