Emotions ran high at the Hosea Kutako International Airport on Sunday as parents welcomed their children who returned home from the war-torn Ukraine on Sunday.
A total of 23 Namibian students arrived safely after fleeing Ukraine into accredited laissez-passer neighbouring countries for temporary shelter, while awaiting repatriation by the government, since the invasion of Russia on 24 February 2022.
In an interview with Nampa, the emotional students said they are relieved to have returned home safely to their families, with many describing the experience as traumatising.
“I am grateful that we have arrived safely. We take life for granted but it is the most important thing. Everything else is just added to it, that is the lesson we learnt from this traumatising war experience. Let us love and be kind to each other,” said an emotional Ottilie Haipinge.
Haipinge, who was three months away from completing her Master’s Degree in Industrial Pharmacy pleaded with the government and all relevant stakeholders to collaborate and find solutions that will allow them to complete their studies.
Another fifth year medical student ,Hikufe Jesaya, said they are grateful that the government repatriated them, pleading that Namibians at large should welcome the students with kindness and caution, due to the extreme trauma experienced both by students and their families.
“We urge our fellow Namibians to stop mocking the students on social media, especially in the sense that we have wasted four to five years of our lives. We are happy to be home safely, but the psychological trauma continues as we think about our future. However, we put trust in our universities,” he noted.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation’s Executive Director, Alfred van Kent, who received the students, said the government is engaging with local universities to map the way forward and ensure that students continue with studies.
“First government is unpacking and establishing the students’ academic years and progress to find out how best we can support and maybe integrate some of the students into various programmes at our local institutions,” he noted.
Another 40 students are expected to arrive on Monday.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency