Canada Evacuates Over 5,000 Citizens from Middle East as Demand for Assistance Declines
The Canadian government says it has helped more than 5,000 citizens and their relatives leave the Middle East since the latest regional conflict erupted, with requests for evacuation assistance now beginning to decline.
According to Global Affairs Canada, over 4,300 Canadians, permanent residents and their family members arrived in Canada between March 4 and March 8 using both direct and indirect travel routes.
An additional 871 people fleeing the region were transported to safe third countries, including Türkiye, as part of the government’s evacuation support efforts.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said the volume of daily calls from Canadians seeking assistance has dropped to about half the level recorded a week earlier. Despite the decline, she continues to urge Canadians still in the region to consider leaving while transportation options remain available.
The conflict began after the United States launched airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28, escalating tensions across the Middle East and prompting many foreign nationals to seek evacuation.
Government data shows that fewer than five percent of the nearly 110,000 Canadians registered in the region have so far requested assistance to leave.
Officials say they are not aware of any Canadians killed or injured since the violence began.