1st batch of Egyptian expats repatriated by sea from Jordan arrives

CAIRO – 30 June 2020: The first batch of Egyptian expats, stuck in Jordan and repatriated by sea, arrived on Monday in Nueiba Port, where they were received by Minister of Transportation Kamel al-Wazir.

The ferry that sailed from Jordan's Aqaba carried 348 passengers, and 38 cars which were sterilized upon arrival.

The passengers received face masks on board, and their temperature was measured by the medical staff. They were divided into groups to check-out, and go through the border control.

An ambulance car was waiting on the quay in case there were passengers showing symptoms.

Egypt and Jordan launched on June 29 a marine line between Nueiba and Aqaba for Egyptian expats stuck in Jordan to return to their homeland."Ayla" ferry is operated by Arab Bridge Maritime four times a week.

Citizens stranded in Jordan are also being brought home by air. On June 21 and June 28, 174 and 50 arrived on Air Cairo flights, respectively. Others were carried to Egypt earlier.

Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Manar stated that around 57,000 stranded Egyptians have been brought home on 315 exceptional flights operated by Egypt Air and Air Cairo since the suspension of international aviation on March 19.

The beginning was with citizens who were in temporary visits or stays. Later, the exceptional flights started bringing home expats who were terminated, particularly in the Gulf.

Paid quarantine in Marsa Alam hotels and free-of-charge quarantine in university dorms have been substituted with home self-isolation for 14 days. When passengers arrive at the airport, their body temperature is measured.