Portugal has 63 repatriation requests from Israel and is organizing a flight through Egypt

The Secretary of State for Communities, Emídio Sousa, guaranteed this Tuesday (3) that the government is monitoring “to the minute, 24 hours a day” the situation of the Portuguese in the Middle East, in the wake of the escalation of tension caused by the attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran, which generated instability in several countries in the region.

In an interview with RTP, the government official stated that There are currently 63 formal requests for repatriation of Portuguese citizens in Israel. “We have everything planned to execute it soon,” he said, without giving details for security reasons.

According to Emídio Sousa, is “all ready” for a repatriation flight from the westernmost part of the region, “probably through Egypt”. In the Riyadh area (Saudi Arabia), he said, negotiations are also taking place for a possible flight, still conditioned by security conditions on the ground.

The Secretary of State explained that “the closure of airspace in several parts of the region” made it difficult to immediately organize flights, but “there are air corridors that are beginning to be reopened and some commercial flights to Europe have already resumed”.

“The Government is working with TAP and other companies to evaluate the possibility of using commercial flights for the return of Portuguese people”as an alternative or complement to a flight chartered by the State, added Emídio Sousa.

400 citizens accompanied by consular services

In addition to the 63 requests for repatriation from Israel, around 400 Portuguese citizens expressed to the consular authorities their intention to be accompanied and receive updated information on the situation, the official revealed. These citizens are integrated into WhatsApp groups created by Portuguese embassies and consular services in the area, to share information about security, reopening of flights and possible exit solutions.

Emídio Sousa reinforced the call for all Portuguese people traveling abroad to register on the Viajante Portal and consular emergency mechanisms. “We want no Portuguese person, wherever they are, to feel isolated or alone”, he stated.