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U.S. Begins Voluntary Evacuation of Citizens from Egypt

Locations in this article:  Athens, Greece Bangkok, Thailand Sydney, Australia

View Of Pyramid From Cairo Egypt - Americans Evacuate EgyptAs the political protests in Egypt enter a seventh day, tourists, business people and students are crowding Cairo International Airport, hoping to find a spot on one of the few commercial flights still in operation.

But American citizens looking to escape the continuing protests now have the option to seek voluntary evacuation on chartered flights.

The first of these U.S. State Department-sponsored flights departed Monday, sending 175 travelers to Athens.

Janice Jacobs, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs outlined the relocation of U.S. citizens in a public service announcement on Sunday.

“The U.S. Department of State is arranging transportation to safe haven locations in Europe … We expect initial flights to go into Athens, Istanbul and Nicosia, Cyprus. Consular personnel at those locations will be available to help citizens make their arrangements for lodging and onward travel.”

Americans stranded in Egypt will be required to reimburse the U.S. government for the chartered flights out of the country. The exact price for the chartered flights has not been determined, but the Consulate claims that it should be comparable to a one-way commercial flight.

Previously: Foreign Tourists Flee Egyptian Protests, Riots

Jacobs goes further to advise that the program is not meant to replace commercial flights, and that “citizens with ticketed flights should contact their airlines.”

But with Internet and cell-phone networks still offline, that could prove difficult or impossible, leaving the voluntary evacuation as the sole option for the more than 90,000 Americans who live and work in Egypt.

Any American making his or her way to the HAJ Terminal 4 at Cairo International where the chartered flights are departing can expect a long delay. To date, more than 2,400 people have signed up for the evacuation.

Therefore, the consulate advises travelers bring “food, water, diapers, and other necessary toiletries with them to the airport.”

By Fernando Padilla for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related Links: US EmbassyState DepartmentNew York TimesSydney Morning Herald

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