Kazakhstan Spent $4 Million to Evacuate Citizens from the Middle East

Kazakhstan spent approximately $4 million to evacuate its citizens from the Middle East amid hostilities, Orda.kz reports.

The costs, which were incurred by private airlines, were reimbursed by the state, according to Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev.

Initially, authorities expected around 4,000 Kazakhstanis to require assistance. However, once the evacuation began, the actual number turned out to be significantly higher — more than 10,000 people.

On average, the state spent about four million dollars on the evacuation of these citizens. We compensated part of the airlines’ expenses. Some passengers had bought return tickets themselves, meaning their services were partially paid for. Accordingly, we covered the portion that included the additional risks. We also had to transport some citizens from Dubai to neighboring countries where the situation was calmer. All of this approximately cost four million dollars,Minister Sauranbayev explained.

During the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, many Kazakhstanis found themselves in a difficult position. Regular flight routes were disrupted, air traffic became unstable, and urgent evacuation was required. Kazakhstani airlines were mobilized to organize additional flights, including via Dubai and other safer neighboring countries.

Original author: Ilya Astakhov

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