117 Ghanaian medical students trapped in Ukraine as conflict escalates

About 117 Ghanaian medical students are stranded in Lugansk, a city in the eastern part of Ukraine. 

The students have complained, calls to the Ghanaian embassy in Moscow have never been picked nor returned.

A student told Joy News, "we are confused we don't know what to do. We go to town, shops are closed. We try to maneuver to get food. Our families put money into our accounts but we cannot withdraw monies from our account".

"We are hiding in hostels…closer to a military base..behind our buildings bombings are taking place…." a spokesperson said.

The Ukrainian conflict began in February 2014 after a series of violent events in the capital of Kiev, culminated with the ousting of the then President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. The country has known no peace since as the Eastern region claims to have seceded.

Hundreds of people have so far been killed and many wounded in a fight between the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic (LNR) and Kiev forces as conflict in the eastern European country continues.

The students want government to help them secure a flight back to Ghana as they describe life there as unbearable.

According to the students the only food they have been eating in Ukraine is rice and potatoes which have also run out.