"Finally Home, But With a Few Hurdles"
Aid for Individuals Re-entering from Israel
Stranded Germans make their way back to Germany from Israel, thanks to a special charter flight. After an evening landing at Frankfurt Airport, relief was the air as 171 passengers stepped off the plane from Amman.
One returning traveler, Lionel Reich, shared his experience, stating, "The last few days in Tel Aviv were nerve-wracking, with tension during the day and air raid alerts every couple of hours at night. The fear is slowly subsiding now that I'm back in Germany. However, it's hard not to feel anxious when I hear about friends whose homes were destroyed in the center of Tel Aviv."
However, not all were pleased with the German government's handling of the situation. Daniel Halav, another returnee, expressed his disappointment: "I've never been so happy to be home, but we had to figure out the journey to Amman ourselves, and I think that's what we pay our taxes for - government support."
Upon arrival, the passengers were met with a swift customs check before being able to reunite with their loved ones. Despite the relief, there were still concerns for those who chose to stay behind.
Other European countries, such as Poland, had organized convoys to Jordan for their citizens. However, the German Foreign Office opted against organized trips from Israel to Jordan, citing potential risks. Instead, they advised citizens to follow the security instructions of the Israeli authorities and avoid overland travel and gatherings.
Despite the ongoing conflict, the Foreign Office has been organizing special charter flights to accommodate those who wish to leave. Another flight is planned for Thursday, but it is already fully booked. Registration on the Elefand crisis preparedness list allows the German government to keep track of its citizens in the area and facilitate an organized evacuation when necessary.
As for those in Iran, the Foreign Office advises travelers to cross borders with neighboring countries Armenia and Turkey, as border crossings remain open. From there, commercial flights can be taken to Germany. The German embassy in Tehran is ready to support the exit process, should it be necessary.
With the volatile situation in the region, the Foreign Office encourages all Germans in the area to stay vigilant and stay updated on the latest developments.
[1] A structured government response to evacuate its citizens from conflict zones, supporting them with transportation and chartered airlifts - https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-tensions-deepen-arab-states-scramble-evacuate-citizens-2019-05-06/[2] An overview of the challenges involved in extracting citizens from conflict zones, including obtaining safe passage and ensuring their well-being - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-55455693[3] The role of diplomacy in the evacuation process, including negotiations with host countries and guaranteeing safe passage - https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/05/middleeast/israel-iran-us-pentagon-tensions-evacuations/index.html
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive regarding the structured government response to evacuate its citizens from conflict zones, supporting them with transportation and chartered airlifts, as seen in the case of the special charter flight from Israel.
- In the midst of general-news on the ongoing volatile situation in the Middle East, politics and lifestyle choices of individuals, such as travel plans, have been significantly impacted, as illustrated by the Germans returning from Israel, expressing disappointment over the lack of organized support and describing their nerve-wracking experiences.
