DUBAI: Iraq has flown hundreds of its citizens home who were stranded abroad because of travel regulations imposed amid the spread of COVID-19.
The Iraqi Embassy in UAE coordinated with local authorities to fly out 276 nationals on Iraqi Airways.
and with the follow-up from the Ambassador and the diplomatic staff, the second extraordinary flight of Iraqi Airways is taking place to return #Iraqi citizens stranded in the #UAE, with about 276 citizens on board.
— د. احمد الصحاف | Dr. Ahmad Al-Sahaf (@DrAhmedalshaf) March 31, 2020
Meanwhile, the airline repatriated 212 citizens from Egypt.
and the follow-up of the Ambassador and the diplomatic staff conducted the fourth Iraqi Airways flight to return Iraqi citizens stranded in Egypt, with (212) citizens on board.
— د. احمد الصحاف | Dr. Ahmad Al-Sahaf (@DrAhmedalshaf) March 31, 2020
Iraq also flew out 115 nationals from Belarus, and 261 citizens from Lebanon.
تسير الرحلة الاستثنائية الاولى للخطوط الجوية العراقية لإعادة المواطنين العراقيين العالقين في بيلاروسيا ، وعلى متنها نحو (115) مواطن.
— د. احمد الصحاف | Dr. Ahmad Al-Sahaf (@DrAhmedalshaf) March 31, 2020
As the numbers of COVID-19 patients have been growing worldwide, countries have been implementing regulations which limit travel abroad.
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and several other countries have suspended international flights.
The current number of cases worldwide has surpassed 800,000, with over 42,000 deaths and more that 178,000 recoveries.
