Berlin, March 3 (QNA) - German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadephul announced Tuesday that his government will begin evacuating its citizens stranded in the Middle East due to the war in Iran tomorrow, Wednesday, via a scheduled flight from Muscat, Oman. He noted that further flights are being planned for the coming days.

In televised remarks, Wadephul stated that Berlin will prioritize children, the elderly, the sick, and pregnant women for these flights.

He explained that passengers will first have to travel overland from the UAE to Oman.

He added that other German citizens, outside the most vulnerable categories, will either have to endure a longer stay or be offered direct flights from the UAE to Germany. He affirmed that the vast majority of German tourists will be able to return home.

The German minister declined to specify the number of passengers likely to be on the first evacuation flight. He noted that the plane used for the initial evacuation would be of the type typically used for long-distance tourist flights.

It is estimated that up to 30,000 clients of German travel agencies have been affected by cancellations and airspace closures in several Gulf countries due to the war. (QNA)