Evacuation Prepared for Thai Workers in Israel, Libya and Kenya

BANGKOK, July 14 (TNA) - Thai authorities are arranging for the evacuation of Thai citizens from Israel, Libya and Kenya, where rising unrest has caused insecurity and livelihood losses. The Employment Department Director-General Sumet Mahosot said that he would discuss the matter with the Consular Affairs Department under the Foreign Ministry on July 18. The authorities would decide if the evacuation should be conducted immediately. According to Mr Sumet, three Thai workers have sought their return from Israel and there are expected to reach Thailand within this month. Mr Sumet said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would take the lead in the evacuation that would be based on such a mission conducted for Thai workers in Libya in 2010. The Department of Employment would spend a fund for Thai workers abroad on the evacuation and would seek the repayment from the National Council for Peace and Order later, he said. The senior official said that the evacuation of Thai workers from Israel would be carried out after an announcement of a state of emergency there. There are about 26,000 Thai workers in Israel and most of them work in the agricultural sector. There are 1,500 Thai workers in Libya, 14 in Iraq and 40 in Kenya. They work in petroleum and construction sectors. (TNA)