The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) today joined CAIR offices around the country to call on the U.S. State Department to immediately seek the quickest, safest, and most efficient way to bring home and repatriate the more than 400 American citizens and legal permanent residents (LPR) who are currently stranded in Yemen without flights due to the COVID-19 global health crisis. While CAIR-SFBA welcomes the breaking news that the State Department has scheduled two flights on June 28 and July 1, departing from Aden, Yemen to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Washington-Dulles International Airport – a number of CAIR-SFBA’s clients may be unable to board those flights because their passports or travel documents have expired while stranded in Yemen.
In one case, a premature American newborn may not be able to travel because the baby does not have a passport and the U.S. has no consular presence in Yemen to assist potential travelers with expired passports or visas.
CAIR-SFBA is calling on the U.S. Government to #BringThemHome, all U.S. nationals stranded, and provide immediate assistance or waivers to those with expired or missing travel documents who can prove they are U.S. citizens or LPRs.
IMPORTANT ALERT: CAIR-SFBA is also urging all Americans and LPRs stranded in Yemen who are seeking assistance to call 408.986.9874 or fill out a report online.
HOW COVID-19 STRANDED U.S. NATIONALS IN YEMEN
While Yemen is currently engaged in a long-standing war that has resulted in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and famine, the COVID-19 global pandemic has only exacerbated the crisis in Yemen.
Many of the more than 400 American citizens and LPRs stranded in Yemen had intended on traveling to that country for a brief period of time and were scheduled to return to the U.S. at the end of March 2020.
Unfortunately, despite their previously booked travel arrangements, the airports in Yemen were closed prior to their return date leaving them stranded without adequate resources to provide for their continued stay, and leaving them at grave risk of exposure to COVID-19 as the health sector is collapsing under the crush of the war, famine and the Chikungunya virus.
STORIES OF HARDSHIP AMERICANS, LPRs ARE ENDURING IN YEMEN
A woman who left for Yemen a little over a year ago, who is currently six months pregnant is unable to return home because of COVID-19 related closures while Yemen’s healthcare infrastructure has completely collapsed, as per the United Nations and the World Health Organization. She is 20 years old and was supposed to start college this year, but missed a semester because she is stranded in Yemen.
A man who recently had a leg amputated in Yemen requires urgent surgery to amputate his other leg and additionally suffers from diabetes. With Yemeni hospitals and cities running out of access to life-saving medication, this individual needs to return back to the safety of his family in the US.
STATE DEPARTMENT REPATRIATION FLIGHTS FROM YEMEN: JUNE 28 & JULY 1
According to the U.S. State Department, it has arranged with Yemeni and Saudi authorities to offer limited repatriation flights from Yemen through Saudi Arabia to the United States during the period that regular commercial service is suspended to help contain the COVID-19 virus.
On June 28 and July 1, flights will depart Aden (ADE) at 6:00am and arrive in Jeddah at 8:00am local time. Corresponding Saudia flights (number SV 35) will depart Jeddah (JED) at 12:30pm and arrive at Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) at 6:50pm the same day.
There are no additional flights scheduled at this time and no indication when regular commercial air service will be restored. The June 28 and July 1 flights are available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) of the United States, as well as immediate family members with valid U.S. visas. All travelers must have valid passports to purchase tickets. U.S. citizens and LPRs who want to return to the United States should consider taking one of these flights or be prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite time period.
All travelers must have valid travel documents to purchase tickets. The U.S. Government has no consular presence in Yemen and cannot assist potential travelers with expired passports or visas.
Travelers will only be allowed to transit through Jeddah; they will not be admitted to Saudi Arabia. Travel requires booking both legs in advance.
Health screenings will be conducted prior to embarkation. Anyone with flu-like symptoms or a fever will not be allowed to board a flight.