Damascus, Jan 12 (SANA) A flight carrying 129 Syrians from Sudan arrived at Damascus Airport on Sunday, marking the fourth and largest phase of a planned evacuation operation coordinated by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Speaking at a press conference at the airport, Mohammad Abdulsalam, Director of the Expatriates Affairs Department and head of the Syrian technical delegation in Sudan, explained that the evacuation process had unfolded in four stages. The first three stages saw the return of 73 Syrians, coordinated with the IOM. However, Sunday’s flight marked the largest group to return thus far.
Abdulsalam confirmed that the total number of evacuees from Sudan now stands at 202, adding that the Syrian Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management is arranging transport for the returnees to their home provinces via a fleet of buses.
The official also expressed gratitude to the Sudanese government for its cooperation, particularly in waiving fines that had previously hindered many Syrians from returning home. He emphasized that the return was voluntary, and many Syrians still reside in Sudan by choice.
He highlighted the collaboration with the IOM, which particularly played a key role in the earlier phases of the evacuation.
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs initially called for Syrians in Sudan who wished to return to register, with the request issued on December 11. This registration was part of efforts to assess the feasibility of organizing an exceptional evacuation, given the current circumstances.
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