Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has ruled out a military evacuation of German travellers currently stranded in the Gulf region due to the Iran conflict. "We will not be able to do that, because the airspaces are completely closed," Wadephul told Bild on Monday. He added that it was currently impossible to predict when those affected would be able to leave the region.
The German government is focusing on providing information and consular support to those affected. "All embassies, all foreign missions are open. We are working intensively to be there with information," Wadephul said.
Speaking on the ARD programme Caren Miosga on Sunday evening, Wadephul said the Foreign Ministry was doing "what we can do." Travellers were being informed at least once a day about the situation and possible options. The minister noted that airspace across the region remained closed, with flights still possible only in some countries such as Saudi Arabia and Oman.
The German Travel Association put the number of affected German travellers in the region at around 30,000. The figure refers to travellers with German tour operators currently in the region or with connecting flights through Gulf hub airports.
Wadephul warned that the conflict would last longer than many expected. "We all have to accept that this conflict will last longer. It is not foreseeable that we can expect an end to the fighting in the coming days," he said. He added: "We therefore need to make provisions to enable departure from these countries by other means."
The minister also pointed out that travellers bear some responsibility for their own safety. "It was not entirely unknown that this could become dangerous," he said of the situation in the Gulf region. "Nobody knew it would come to this escalation, but it had to be expected. And now we are helping."
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