Namibia Intensifies Evacuation Exercise of Over 100 Nationals Amid Middle East Crisis

The Namibian Embassy in Cairo has said that more than 100 Namibians are stranded in the Middle East as governments intensify evacuation efforts to ensure their safe return home.

This was confirmed by Namibia’s ambassador to Egypt, Weich Mupya, earlier this week, who noted that the ongoing crisis has caught both the government and its citizens off guard.

“It is difficult to determine the exact number, but there are many … they are not less than 100. Evacuation remains a voluntary exercise, but we are trying by all means. One life lost is one life too many,” he said.

He added that evacuation activities cannot be treated as an open-and-shut case, especially when people who were not expecting the crisis are involved.

Mupya said safety remains a priority.

“It is my strongest wish to get all Namibian citizens to safety from the region as soon as possible. While many indicated a desire to leave, the exact figure of the evacuees remains uncertain as decisions often change depending on the security situation,” he said.

The Middle East crisis, which has sparked global condemnation and calls for a ceasefire, has continued to spread across several countries including Lebanon, Gulf states and Yemen.

This follows continued military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, as well as retaliatory attacks that have escalated regional violence and resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

Several African nations have already begun evacuation exercises through repatriation flights following the closure of some flight routes.

Global leaders have warned that the continuing crisis could have a significant impact on the global economy, particularly on countries with weaker economies.