German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday said at least 120,000 German citizens have been brought home via so-called ‘airlift’ after having been stranded abroad amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“We have as far as possible completed the return from the main holiday areas and dedicate ourselves now especially to countries that are further away.
“Around 200,000 Germans had been abroad at the start of the operation,’’ Maas said.
Numerous countries have closed their borders or reduced flights in and out due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The pandemic has prompted Maas to announce on March 17 that Germans would be brought home from countries from which there were no more regular flights.
To do so, the Foreign Ministry chartered planes, which have since flown 40 flights.
Meanwhile, some travel agents and German airline Lufthansa have brought back holidaymakers of their own volition.
Read also: At least three doctors die in Covid-19 fight in Philippines
Germans stranded abroad can register to be brought home on the website www.rueckholprogramm.de.
Currently the operation is concentrated on the following countries, Egypt, Algeria, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Gambia, India, Morocco, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines, and Tunisia.
Report says the Foreign Office estimates that 10,000 Germans a day can be brought back to Germany.
Maas said that EU citizens from other countries would also be brought back should there be space for them. (dpa)
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