According to my instructions, on May 7 and 9, 231 citizens of Kazakhstan were evacuated from Syria, including 156 children, mostly of preschool age, of whom 18 are orphans.
That major humanitarian action followed Zhusan Operation, which was successfully carried out this January at the direction of the First President, Leader of Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Rehabilitation measures have been taken for all arriving citizens by state bodies and non-governmental organizations. They have been provided medical, psychological and social assistance.
We can say about the beneficial effect of this work. The women who returned this January have given up on the radical past, joined jobs, and re-established ties with relatives. The children went to schools and kindergartens.
Citizens of Kazakhstan who left for the areas of combat operations brought themselves to such a rash step under the influence of destructive, in fact, deceitful propaganda of terrorists. Now they are willingly getting back to Kazakhstan, amid hopes to lead a new life. Their children should not be in pain in a strange land and be committed for the mistakes of their parents.
Kazakhstan affirms its obligations to counter terrorism, as well as to provide comprehensive assistance to citizens in a difficult situation. The humanitarian action is not limited to that. None of our people will be left unattended.
I express my gratitude to the staff of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the National Security Committee and other government agencies, as well as foreign partners who took part in this humanitarian operation.