In the wake of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and upon directives from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, an EgyptAir plane flew on Tuesday afternoon to Bucharest to evacuate Egyptian nationals who fled the conflict in Ukraine to Romania, the government announced.
Cabinet Spokesman Ambassador Nader Saad said the cabinet issued the orders upon receiving the presidential directives to make all necessary coordination between the Foreign Ministry, the Egyptian embassies in the countries surrounding Ukraine, the Ministry of Emigration and Expatriate Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
He said they agreed to send a plane to fly home Egyptian students from Bucharest.
Also, Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs and Egyptians Abroad Salah Eddin al-Sadek headed to Bucharest on the same plane to follow up on all the arrangements, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian embassy in Kyiv called on its citizens to quickly head to the Egyptian embassy in Bucharest, where a list of passengers taking the evacuation plane was prepared.
It also advised them to directly head to the airport from the embassy in one group.
In Cairo, Egyptian Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expats Nabila Makram confirmed that the state is keen to follow up on the conditions of Egyptians in Ukraine in light of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
She commended the role of Egyptian embassies in the countries neighboring Ukraine, saying the diplomatic teams were capable of “providing facilities for Egyptians crossing the borders and of solving any problem facing them during their move to safe areas.”
On Monday, the government said that Makram renewed her appeal to the Egyptian community in Ukraine to be cautious and abide by instructions issued by the concerned authorities.
“When they decide to move, Egyptians should continue to communicate with the Egyptian embassy and with representatives of the community to solve any problem they may face, and until they reach safe border areas,” the Minister said.
She said the Egyptian state spares no effort towards its nationals in Ukraine, and is working in full swing to help them return safely to their country.
The Minister had also directed all Egyptians in Ukraine not to believe unreliable news and to follow only the data issued by Egyptian government agencies and the Egyptian embassy in Kyiv.
