The Government of Zimbabwe says it has completed the evacuation of its students and non-essential embassy staff from Iran, with essential diplomatic personnel now relocated to Armenia.
The move follows a wave of joint United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran, with Tehran responding by launching missiles and drones across parts of the Middle East.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Albert Chimbindi, said that, so far, only Zimbabweans based in Iran had requested evacuation. He said:
“So far, the only people who are back are some citizens who were in Iran, and these are the non-essential staff as well as students.
“These are the only ones who indicated that they need to be evacuated. Some officers are still in Armenia monitoring the situation.
“All our embassies have contingency measures in case they need to be evacuated.
“Our embassies in countries such as the United Arab Emirates have communicated through official channels with Zimbabweans in those countries.
“All the machinery is in place in case there is a need for evacuation.”
Chimbindi said that authorities are compiling updated records of Zimbabweans living in the region, adding that some had not formally registered with diplomatic missions. He said:
“Currently, about 6 000 Zimbabweans are living in the UAE. However, in some instances, people do not officially register with their respective embassies until such incidents.
“So, the process of compiling accurate figures is ongoing.”
More: The Sunday Mail
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