Canada working to repatriate over 2,000 citizens from Middle East

African outlets stress that thousands of South Africans and smaller groups from countries like Zambia remain stuck in the Middle East despite official calls to leave. They place responsibility on both home governments, which have limited resources, and host countries, whose instability is driving the exodus. They expect slow, phased evacuations and warn that many African workers may be left to rely on employers or relatives rather than state-organized flights.

• •South Africa’s foreign ministry has urged nearly 7,000 South Africans in the Middle East to arrange departures as soon as possible.
• •South African officials acknowledge they do not yet have enough flights to move all citizens who want to leave.
• •Zambia has only just begun organizing evacuations, leaving many Zambian workers in the Middle East waiting for clear instructions.
• •Many African nationals in the region are employed in sectors like construction and domestic work and may lack funds for commercial tickets.
• •African governments fear that delays in evacuation could expose their citizens to sudden border closures or airport shutdowns.