Baghdad-Sana
Syria's ambassador to Baghdad, Sattam Jadaan Al-Dandah, announced the return of 500 Syrian citizens from Iraq this week, as part of government efforts to return Syrians stranded abroad.
Al-Dandah said in a statement to SANA correspondent in Baghdad today that the embassy, based on the directives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, had contacted the Syrian citizens residing or stuck in Iraq in order to secure their return to the homeland.
Al-Dandah said that the number of those wishing to return to the homeland exceeded 1,200 and that the Syrian Aviation Corporation had prepared for two flights, one of them next Wednesday from the capital Baghdad and the other on Thursday from the city of Erbil to transport 500 citizens, at the rate of 250 per trip.
Al-Dandah said that the embassy doors are open to citizens around the clock and through all means of communication, including the official website of the embassy in order to return those who want to come home after I obtained the approval of the Iraqi authorities, who banned flying at all its airports, on the landing of Syrian planes to transport our citizens and exempt them from all fines incurred by them. Due to some legal violations.
Al-Dandah indicated that the repatriation operations will take place through two flights a week from Baghdad and Erbil, and the timing will be announced later.