Hundreds of Dutch travelers still stranded amid Middle East flight chaos
Several hundred stranded travelers still want to be repatriated from the Middle East, Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen has said during a debate in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament.
Berendsen stated that roughly 6,000 people qualified for repatriation. Thousands have already left the area: about 3,000 on their own, and around 1,000 with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Just under 1,000 individuals have chosen not to accept any assistance, according to the minister.
The ministry is shifting to a “customized approach” to repatriate smaller groups from various countries, though Berendsen did not provide details. He stressed that a Defense aircraft will remain in the region to support the effort and called on people to notify authorities if they are already safe.
On Thursday, Dutch citizens stranded in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, and New Zealand were contacted by their local embassies, which provided information, including guidance on extending visas.
The message, sent through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Information Service, states that the Dutch embassy cannot assist with booking or changing flights. Stranded travelers are advised to contact their airline or travel provider directly, as also stated on the government’s website.
Global travel has been thrown into chaos as the conflict in Iran and strikes across the Middle East force the closure of Gulf airspace. With these airports acting as the primary gateways for long-haul flights to Asia, Africa, and Australia, thousands of passengers have been left stranded. While the impact is global, Dutch authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of citizens currently stuck abroad.
