Frantic Homecoming: Charters Escape the Mid-East Mayhem
Germans Receiving Israeli Residents Again
Amidst the chaos and confusion, a group of hapless Germans trapped in the Middle East warzone were rescued. Hailing from Israel, these citizens were ferried back to Deutschland on a chartered flight landing at Frankfurt Airport Wednesday night. A German Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed the flight carried a total of 171 people.
"The last few days have been nerve-wracking in Tel Aviv. It's peaceful during the day, but the nights are a different story with air raid alerts every two to three hours," mentioned Lionel Reich upon his arrival. He conveyed feelings of fear driven by rocket explosions' deafening sounds and relief at being safely back in Germany. However, his worry only amplified upon learning about friends in Tel Aviv whose apartments were destroyed after the carnage.
A Relief Woefully Delayed
Daniel Halav, another stranded traveler, expressed an overwhelming sense of joy at returning home. Nonetheless, he didn't pull any punches when criticizing the federal government. "We were left to fend for ourselves as we organized our way to Amman. I think that's what our tax dollars are meant to cover—the government taking care of its citizens," Halav stated.
Germany's embassy in Tel Aviv initially closed after Israel's attacks on Iran last week. The news of charter flights originating from Amman came at short notice. "I guess that's the kind of service you expect from a government," Halav added. He described the journey to Amman as "adventurous."
While other European nations set up convoys to Jordan for their nationals, the German Foreign Office chose to forgo organized trips from Israel to the Jordanian airport, citing additional risks associated with overland travel. Germans were instead encouraged to adhere to Israel's security guidelines and avoid crowds.
"This was not a repatriation or evacuation operation. Instead, we categorize these flights as commercial charters due to insufficient exit options from airlines," a Foreign Office spokesperson explained. The chartered flights will continue if the situation allows and there is a need. A charter flight is scheduled for Thursday, but it's already fully booked. Another one is in the works, the ministry announced.
The Foreign Office urges Germans to register on its crisis preparedness list Elefand. As of now, over 4,000 Germans are recorded on Germany’s crisis preparedness list Elefand in Israel, and more than 1,000 Germans are registered in Iran.
Uncertain Paths for Germans in Iran
The Foreign Office warned that the tumultuous situation in the region persists. According to a spokesperson, "Israeli operations on Iran continue, and Iranian shelling on Israel continues, resulting in both countries keeping their airspace shut. This effectively locks down exit options by air."
Faced with these constraints, Germans in Iran are advised to cross the borders to neighboring countries Armenia and Turkey via land. Border crossings in these countries are currently open. At times, it's also possible to leave via the Azerbaijani border. From any of these countries, commercial flights can be boarded to reach Germany. "Germans are encouraged to make use of these escape routes," the statement advised. The German embassy in Tehran provides assistance to facilitate safe exits, including ressorting to direct contact with Iranian authorities.
- Daniel Halav, a stranded traveler, critiques the German government for not providing adequate assistance, stating, "I think that's what our tax dollars are meant to cover—the government taking care of its citizens."
- For Germans in Iran, the Foreign Office recommends crossing land borders to neighboring countries Armenia, Turkey, or Azerbaijan, which currently have open border crossings, and then boarding commercial flights to reach Germany, stating, "Germans are encouraged to make use of these escape routes."
