Kuwait repatriates 29,168 nationals amid coronavirus crisis

A Kuwaiti national waits to board a repatriation flight at Najaf International Airport in Iraq on May 5, 2020. (AFP)
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  • Kuwait’s repatriation efforts saw flights being deployed to over 60 cities around the world
  • More than 1,900 food delivery permits cancelled

DUBAI: Kuwait repatriated 29,168 of its citizens between April 19 and May 6 as part of a huge undertaking to bring home national that were stranded due to travel restrictions because of the coronavirus pandemic.

About 42,584 nationals listed in their names in a government database, where 35,848 expressed their initial desire to be repatriated. Of those who initially wanted to be flown home, about a fifth eventually relented and chose to stay in their host countries for personal or medical reasons.

Kuwait’s repatriation efforts saw flights being deployed to over 60 cities around the world.

Meanwhile, more than 1,900 food deliver permits were cancelled by the government for violations of health requirements.

“We will not hesitate to cancel the permit of those who are not committed to the implementation of the Ministry of Health guidelines,” an official said.