More than ten Taiwanese nationals stranded in Saudi Arabia as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, returned home on April 29 (Wednesday) thanks to Japanese assistance with an evacuation charter flight.
The Taiwanese, mainly students, and people on short business trips to the Middle Eastern country, were stranded there when Riyadh in March expanded its restrictions on the movement of personnel as part of its efforts to stem the new coronavirus spread, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
Desperate to return home, they sought the help of the ministry's representative office in Saudi Arabia after learning of the exorbitant cost of chartering a flight on their own, MOFA spokesperson Joanne Ou said.
After reaching out for help, the office eventually received Japan's consent to allow the Taiwanese to board a commercial flight it chartered to evacuate its own citizens home from Saudi Arabia, Ou said.
The flight took off from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and arrived in Tokyo the following day, after which the Taiwanese travelers took a transit flight to Taiwan.
Ou said MOFA is grateful to Japan for its help, adding that "the move proves that Taiwan-Japan relations are close and friendly."
On April 18, 60 Taiwanese nationals, including one infant, living in the United Arab Emirates, returned to Taiwan thanks to arrangements made by MOFA.
Source: Overseas Community Affairs Council, R.O.C
