Countries evacuate citizens from Israel, Iran amid spiralling conflict
發佈日期: 2025-06-19 20:56
TVB News
Countries around the world are scrambling to evacuate their citizens as the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies.
Up till now, more than 300 Chinese nationals, including some Hongkongers, have been safely relocated to Iran's neighbouring country, Azerbaijan.
The Chinese Embassy in Israel said it will assist evacuees to leave in batches beginning on Friday.
The back-and-forth attacks between Iran and Israel entered the seventh straight day despite the calls for restraint.
Thousands of foreigners caught up in the exchange of fire have rushed to flee from the two embattled countries.
Around 700,000 American nationals reside in Israel, some of whom have dual citizenship. The U.S. ambassador to Israel said the embassy is working on dispatching "evacuation flights" and "cruise ship departures" for Americans wanting to leave Israel.
Having activated its civil defence mechanism, the European Commission expects to see over 400 EU evacuees leave Israel from Monday to Wednesday. A spokeswoman said those stranded would have to exit via Egypt and Jordan as the Israeli airspace is closed.
French President Emmanuel Macron has instructed government departments to ramp up evacuation efforts and called on people not to travel to Israel or Iran.
Japan said it is sending two military airplanes to East Africa ahead of a possible airlifting of its nationals from Iran.
The Chinese Embassy in Israel, meanwhile, said it will organize group evacuations from Israel starting Friday. A notice posted on its social media account said Chinese citizens would be taken out through the Taba border crossing to Egypt by bus.
The Foreign Ministry in Beijing announced on Thursday that over 1,600 Chinese citizens were evacuated to safety from Iran, and several hundred from Israel.
Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Lu Mei welcomed the first batch of Chinese evacuees from Iran Tuesday night.
She noted these include staff members of Chinese institutions, overseas students, migrant workers, as well as a number of Hong Kong compatriots. They were all taken good care of, the envoy said, adding the embassy had prepared bus and accommodation for them.
But some Chinese nationals opted to stay amid the looming war.
Yin Quanbin, who lives in eastern Tehran, said the city is not as dangerous as many think and there's still ample electricity, food and water.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies were quick to respond to humanitarian needs at the epicentre of the conflict. Frontline workers treated the wounded in makeshift hospitals and dug through the rubble in search of survivors.
However, it is reported that five rescuers have lost their lives during Israeli strikes against Iran.
A member of the Hong Kong Red Cross expressed hope that all parties will provide assurances in protecting the lives and safety of rescuers.
Joyce Ching, head of International and Relief Service of the Hong Kong Red Cross, said: "There is the international humanitarian law that we urge both parties to comply to the international humanitarian law, to respect and protect our frontline humanitarian workers."
"We are also urging different parties to try to really protect the civilians' lives, to scale down the violence and the conflict that are affecting the general populations."
