More than 9,000 Dutch citizens in the Middle East have now filled out an emergency contact form to request help or advice from the government. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the figures following a report by RTL Nieuws. The registration portal is set to close this Friday afternoon.
The Ministry clarified that while 9,000 forms have been submitted, this does not mean that 9,000 people actually need a flight home. Some travellers have already managed to leave the region on their own, some may have filled out the form twice, and others may not meet the strict rules for government assistance.
To be eligible for a repatriation flight, a person must be a Dutch citizen or a family member living in the Netherlands. The government has made it clear that Dutch nationals who actually live in the region, such as those residing in Dubai, are not eligible for these emergency flights.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
