Mangaluru: With Afghanistan in chaos, for some mangalureans brought back memories of Iraq’s invasion to Kuwait which began on August 2, 1990.
Drawing parallel, they recalled how they fled to India with anything they could collect, fear of their lives .
Cynthia Pereira, a class V student later, was caught unconsciously the situation and chaos outside his home, and had to pack all his belongings to leave Kuwait in August 1990.
“It was a summer vacation.
My uncle, who was in a state of panic, came home And asked me to switch on TV.
The news was about President Iraqi Saddam Hussein attacked the country.
There was chaos, a rocket explosion and booming sirens near our place.
After a few days, when my family realized that it was difficult to stay, we decided to Go to India, “recalled Cynthia, who came from Miyar in Karkala.
“My family sells all their items at low prices and goes for India.
There isn’t much money with my parents and other people.
It was a long week trip on the bus.
On the road, the Red Cross and other organizations gave us food and Residence.
We sleep in the tent and queue for food, “said Cynthia.
He landed again in Kuwait in 2004, after his graduation, and currently working as a training administrator.
Emilida Lobo, a resident of Jeppu, who went to Kuwait to make a livelihood of nine months before the crisis, had to return with his employer.
“I returned back and worked almost for four years,” Emadis said.
For Stephen B Machado, a resident of Karkala, a bank employee, who had just celebrated his first birthday, he was in his car and would work as usual, when the invasion took place.
He landed in Kuwait after his graduation in 1981, and worked there for almost 37 years as a banker, and now settled in Bengaluru.
Stephen said, “The trip began on August 28 to Baghdad in the car, with my wife and daughter.
After reaching Baghdad, we had to travel to Jordan.
It is a 10 day trip changing life with a little savings in the hand.
We finally evacuated to Mumbai on September 7, “Stephen said, who returned to Kuwait in April 1991, after the crisis ended.