The South African government has assisted more than 30 students to return home from war-torn Ukraine, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has announced.
The first group of 10 students arrived in South Africa on Thursday while another batch of about 25 was expected in the country at the weekend.
In a joint statement with local pharmaceutical firm Aspen Pharmacare, DIRCO said on Friday that the students were forced to flee Ukraine into neighbouring countries in the wake of the raging armed conflict with Russia.
“The students, other nationals, crossed into neighbouring Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia to run away from the war. And most of them did not have the means to return home on their own,” the joint statement said.
The students were studying at various universities in Ukraine when Russia invaded the country on February 24.
Aspen joined forces with DIRCO to “expedite both the travel arrangements and funding required to assist with their safe return to South Africa,” they said.
NM/jn/APA