Russians and foreigners working for Russian companies in Libya are awaiting evacuation by ferry in Ras Lanuf, in the north of the country, a spokesman for the Russian Railways said on Saturday.
The Saint Stefan-2 ferry, which has a capacity of 1,000 people, left the Italian port of Bari for the Libya port of Ras Lanuf on Friday. The vessel is expected to arrive in Ras Lanuf late on Sunday to take 842 people on board.
"The situation is normal, people are safe and provided with food, water and other essentials," said spokesman Alexander Alkhovich, who is in charge with managing the camp in the Libyan city.
"All citizens are in good health and feel normal," he added.
The permission for the ferry to enter the Libyan port is expected to be given within a day, said Roman Oleinikov, who is attache at the Russian Foreign Ministry's Middle East and North Africa Department.
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry is also considering a possibility to evacuate Russians via the Libyan port of Surt. "The ministry's aviation is ready to fly to Libya in case of necessity," a spokesman said.
MOSCOW, February 26 (RIA Novosti)