Some 119,000 Egyptian nationals working in Libya have returned to Egypt on 352 EgyptAir flights since violence erupted in the North African nation on 17 February, Egypt's Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.
“Efforts are ongoing to repatriate Egyptians stuck in Libya, Algeria and Tunisia,” said Assistant Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdel Hakim.
He added that France had sent six planes to assist in the effort, while the UK had sent four planes, Spain three planes, Malta six planes and the UN High Commission for Refugees two planes. The US, for its part, had sent a number of C-130 aircraft, he said.
Abdel Hakam also said that an Egyptian naval vessel, the "Shalatin," had arrived in Alexandria on Wednesday carrying large numbers of Egyptians from Libya. Another Egyptian naval vessel, the "Halayeb," set out on Thursday from Tunis to Alexandria, also bearing large numbers of Egyptian nationals.
Yet another ship, chartered by the International Organization for Migration, arrived to Egypt on Thursday, also carrying large numbers of Egyptians, while Turkey has also reportedly dispatched a ship to Libyan capital Tripoli for the same purpose.
