The Canadian government has reserved hundreds of seats on commercial flights and arranged a chartered flight from Dubai to Istanbul to assist Canadians leaving the Gulf region amid escalating tensions in Iran, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced Friday.
Speaking to reporters, Anand stated that the government is prepared to offer unused seats to citizens of European and other allied nations. “If any seats are unused by Canadians, we will offer them to Europeans and like-minded missions for their staff or citizens,” she said.
As of Friday morning, more than 108,000 Canadians have registered with Global Affairs Canada in the region, with approximately 3,500 requesting assistance with departure. The chartered flight from Dubai, scheduled for March 7, will accommodate 180 Canadians and is being operated on a cost-recovery basis, according to Anand.
In addition to the chartered flight, Ottawa has secured seats on two Air Arabia flights departing from Dubai for Istanbul over the weekend, expecting to accommodate between 45 and 50 Canadians per flight. A Dubai-Toronto Emirates flight with 51 reserved seats for Canadians, scheduled for Saturday, is now fully booked. A Middle East Airlines flight departing Lebanon on Thursday carried 50 Canadians, and an additional 200 seats have been reserved on four upcoming Beirut-Istanbul flights.
Anand cautioned against ground travel, stating, “I want to reiterate that any ground transportation carries risk.” However, she confirmed the arrangement of four buses departing Qatar for Saudi Arabia, offering 180 seats and coordinating with Australia on the effort.
When questioned about the potential deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces to aid in evacuations, Anand stated, “We are looking at all options, period.” She urged all Canadians in the region to register with Global Affairs Canada, emphasizing the volatile and unpredictable situation.
Canadians requiring assistance can contact the government’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre at 613-996-8885 or [email protected].
The announcements come as the United States has taken action in Iran, actions Canada supports, according to Politico. However, Anand has declined to state whether Canada views strikes on Iran as legal, according to reporting from TownAndCountryToday.com and The Albertan. She affirmed that both the U.S. And Israel are bound by international law, as reported by CTV News.
