«We don’t know how to get back» Zaia in contact with the Farnesina

Fifteen Italian tourists – mostly from Veneto – have found themselves blocked since Tuesday 30 April on theSocotra island in Yemen, after arriving on the only weekly flight from Abu Dhabi. Due to the ongoing conflict in the country, the group is uncertain how to return home. “They don’t give us any news, we don’t know anything,” say the Italians, including one from Brescia, who also recognize that they made a risky choice in a destination at risk due to the continuation of the conflict. Regarding the island of Socotrathe Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its website “Travel safely” reminds us that «it is absolutely not recommended to travel in the current situation” and that “the Italian embassy in Sanaa has suspended its activities until further notice”. The Farnesina is already taking action on the matter of our compatriots.

«Tour operators – explains one of the tourists to Ansa – still organize trips off the coast of Yemen. We trusted and now we have been blocked for over 4 days. Our group is made up of about fifteen people, some from Lombardy, one from Rimini and above all. We started from Abu Dhabi on April 23rd with the only weekly flight to the island». Bad weather has now added to the complex situation from a geopolitical point of view. “Not extreme conditions, but officially we were told that we are not flying due to the weather. They don’t give us much news, we don’t know anything” admit the Italians who also recognize that they have made a risky choice.

Governor Zaia’s contacts

The president of Veneto, Luca Zaia, is in contact with the Farnesina to help resolve the situation in which a large group of Italians find themselves, almost all from Veneto, from which they report that they are unable to return due to the cancellation, which they say is inexplicable , of all flights. «After receiving the news from one of our fellow Venetian citizens – notes Zaia – I immediately contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from which I received reassurance that the appropriate procedures had been activated. It is hoped that the return flight can be activated in a few days.” Until the problem is resolved, Zaia will remain in contact with the Farnesina to follow the evolution of the situation.

The dangers

«I heard from the Farnesina several times throughout the day after having also spoken by telephone with some of the fifteen Italian tourists stranded on the island of Socotra. There is no immediate danger and that’s the important thing. The hope is that they will be able to return home as soon as possible, but it cannot be underlined that the indications of Viaggiare Sicuri strongly advised against any type of travel to Yemen. Having said that, it is still necessary to thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which immediately took action to provide assistance to our compatriots.” This was declared by Giangiacomo Calovini, deputy and group leader of the Brothers of Italy in the Foreign and Community Affairs commission of the Chamber.

The blogger… happy

On social media one of the blocked tourists, the Slovakian travel blogger Veronika Bednárová, posts a very reassuring and ironic video: she films herself from above with a drone, lying on a dream beach, smiling, next to a writing in the sand that is ironic about the canceled flights that force her to extend her stay: “Don’t help us” . “After a fantastic week we had to return home via Abu Dhabi and our flight was cancelled,” she writes in the post. «We were supposed to leave on another flight in 3 days. They canceled that too. Our scheduled departure is in 2 days. Until then… don’t help us.”

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