Nine days of emergency evacuations have seen more than 35,000 Chinese citizens removed from the chaos in Libya.
The largest organized overseas evacuation since the founding of new China has been successful with the efforts from the Chinese Government and assistance from many Chinese compatriots.
At midnight on March 2, a plane chartered by the Chinese embassy took off from Istanbul, and in the process flew home the last 188 Chinese evacuees in Turkey.
Embassy and consular staff, along with volunteers from local Chinese companies and associations, have provided full care for those being evacuated.
"You'll find there's a ticket in your passport. With the ticket and passport, you'll take your luggage, and then go ahead," a Chinese volunteer in Istanbul said.
It is impossible for many of the evacuees to hold back a smile as they finally get their hands on their ticket home.
Elsewhere, the Ras Jdir crossing point between Libya and Tunisia has been nothing short of chaotic since the violence began. Tens of thousands of people have been trying to leave the country through here, prompting the Chinese Embassy in Tunisia to set up a team specifically to help those leaving.
"We tried our best. We only have 18 diplomatic officers at the embassy. 14 of them have come to the front line to help with the evacuation," said Zhou Ruisheng, Counselor of Chinese Embassy in Tunisia.
The successful evacuation of so many people was made possible by efforts at various levels of government, as well as by the strong will of the evacuees, and the selfless help offered by so many Chinese compatriots.
(CNTV.cn March 4, 2011) |