Belgium’s Foreign Affairs Department confirmed on 28 October that a Royal Belgian Air Force A400M transport aircraft has brought 75 people out of war-torn Gaza, continuing a series of humanitarian flights that began in late 2023. The latest evacuees—Belgian passport-holders, recognised refugees and close relatives with valid Belgian visas—landed at Ostend Airport shortly after 15:00 local time, where they received medical screening and consular assistance.
The complex air-bridge, organised in coordination with Egyptian and Israeli authorities, uses an air-corridor from El Arish in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula to Belgium. According to Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Jordens, roughly 700 eligible individuals have been extracted to date, with a further 500 still registered for evacuation. Priority is given to minors, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions; several evacuees on Monday required immediate hospital transfer.
The operation underscores the growing role of emergency mobility in corporate duty-of-care strategies. Belgian multinationals with staff or contractors in high-risk zones must now file detailed personnel manifests with the Crisis Centre to expedite future extraction. Insurance brokers report a 40 % spike in enquiries for “political-risk evacuation riders” since the Gaza conflict intensified.
Logistically, the use of Ostend rather than Brussels or Melsbroek reflects capacity constraints at the main military apron and allows rapid onward travel for families through a secured Schengen channel. Evacuees holding only temporary Belgian visas receive an automatic 90-day extension under the 2022 Emergency Reception Decree, but must register with their local commune within eight days of arrival.
Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib praised the “flawless cooperation” among Defence, Interior and consular teams, yet acknowledged delays: “Clearance from regional actors can take days; we will not stop until every Belgian entitled to return is home.” NGOs, however, criticise the eligibility rules for excluding distant relatives who often depend on the primary evacuee for support.
The complex air-bridge, organised in coordination with Egyptian and Israeli authorities, uses an air-corridor from El Arish in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula to Belgium. According to Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Jordens, roughly 700 eligible individuals have been extracted to date, with a further 500 still registered for evacuation. Priority is given to minors, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions; several evacuees on Monday required immediate hospital transfer.
The operation underscores the growing role of emergency mobility in corporate duty-of-care strategies. Belgian multinationals with staff or contractors in high-risk zones must now file detailed personnel manifests with the Crisis Centre to expedite future extraction. Insurance brokers report a 40 % spike in enquiries for “political-risk evacuation riders” since the Gaza conflict intensified.
Logistically, the use of Ostend rather than Brussels or Melsbroek reflects capacity constraints at the main military apron and allows rapid onward travel for families through a secured Schengen channel. Evacuees holding only temporary Belgian visas receive an automatic 90-day extension under the 2022 Emergency Reception Decree, but must register with their local commune within eight days of arrival.
Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib praised the “flawless cooperation” among Defence, Interior and consular teams, yet acknowledged delays: “Clearance from regional actors can take days; we will not stop until every Belgian entitled to return is home.” NGOs, however, criticise the eligibility rules for excluding distant relatives who often depend on the primary evacuee for support.
Nguồn: The Brussels Times
