In response to media queries, the MFA Spokesman confirmed that nine Singapore students returned from Kuwait this morning, arriving at Changi Airport on SQ 425.
The parents of these nine Singapore students studying in Kuwait approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to facilitate the safe return of these students to Singapore in view of the Middle East situation. The Ministry contacted the Singapore Embassy in Riyadh and our non-resident Ambassador to Kuwait, Professor Brian Lee, who in turn worked closely with the Saudi and Kuwaiti authorities to facilitate the return of these students. As flights out of Kuwait were delayed following the outbreak of war in Iraq, MFA decided to bring the students overland to Riyadh. Mr Mohamed Yusuf, Attache from the Singapore Embassy in Riyadh, travelled by car to Kuwait to coordinate this effort. He accompanied the nine students from Kuwait city to Riyadh. From Riyadh, the Singapore Embassy made the necessary arrangements for the students to travel to Jeddah where they boarded the Singapore Airlines flight to Singapore on 23 March 2003.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
24 MARCH 2003