DIRCO and Aspen help SA students evacuate Ukraine

Aspen Pharmacare and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) teamed up to evacuate the first group of South African students who had been studying in Ukraine.

The fleeing students arrived safely in South Africa on Thursday morning (10 March).

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and pharmaceutical company Aspen Pharmacare have announced they have partnered to evacuate South African students who were forced to flee Ukraine.

Russia’s invasion of its neighbour prompted nearly two million people to abandon their belongings and cross into neighbouring countries like Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

This turned out to be quite the ordeal for students from South Africa and other African countries as they complained about being on the receiving end of racism and other hostility by border officials, who had refused them entry into neighbouring nations. Many of them, lacking the financial means, were also forced to go without food for days.

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MORE STUDENTS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE SOON

In a statement, both Aspen Pharmacare and DIRCO say the first group of students touched down in South Africa on Thursday morning, 10 March 2022, on an Air France Flight at OR Tambo International Airport.

About 23 students will arrive again this coming weekend, while two more are expected next week.

Aspen Group’s Stavros Nicolaou says the situation in Ukraine has led to a humanitarian crisis which now affects South African students in the country.

“After the weekend appeal to our Government and Corporate South Africa from many of these Students,  Aspen who, has a presence in Ukraine and neighbouring territories decided join forces with South African Government to ensure the timeous and safe return of these Students to their home Country, so that they can be united with their loved ones.” 

Aspen Group’s Stavros Nicolaou

“Our students are our future, and it is important that the Spirit of Ubuntu prevailed and that together with our Government, we were able to move swiftly to ensure their safe and timely return. We hope that they will be able to resume their studies in the not-too-distant future.  Aspen is particularly privileged to have played a role at this time where we are witnessing a Global Humanitarian Crisis unfold before our eyes”

Aspen Group’s Stavros Nicolaou

By: Thabo Baloyi