More Tanzanians evacuated from Iran

DAR ES SALAAM: THIRTEEN more Tanzanians who had been stranded in Iran amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran have safely returned home, marking the third group to be evacuated.

The group, comprised mostly of students, arrived yesterday at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.

Their safe return was made possible through coordinated efforts by the government via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, in collaboration with Tanzanian embassies abroad.

Speaking during the reception, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Director of Communication, Ambassador Mindi Kasiga said the government has fully covered the cost of bringing home the group, in line with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directive to ensure the safe return of all Tanzanians facing emergencies abroad.

She said that their journey home included a transit through the United Arab Emirates, where they received immigration support and emergency travel documentation to facilitate their return. “Today, we have received 13 Tanzanians who travelled from Iran through the UAE.

Most of them are students who had been pursuing their studies, but due to the volatile situation, they chose to return home for their safety,” she said.

She added, “Among them was a mother with a newborn who required emergency travel documents. The government ensured that the baby received a passport in time, enabling both to travel safely.”

Ambassador Kasiga also said several challenges encountered during the operation, including lack of passports for infants, communication difficulties in conflict zones such as Iran and the absence of a direct Tanzanian diplomatic mission in the country.

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She further confirmed that efforts are still underway to bring home other Tanzanians, with the support of embassies especially those located near areas of conflicts.

Ambasador Kasiga further urged all Tanzanians travelling abroad to register with Tanzanian embassies upon arrival to ease communication and emergency assistance when needed.

One of the returning students, who was studying audiology at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Thecla Suwi shared the hardships they faced, especially during the first two weeks of the conflict.

“We were living near areas of intense fighting. Bombs were exploding throughout the night. We had no certainty about food or our safety. We were confined indoors, under extreme psychological stress,” she said.

Despite the difficulties, Thecla praised the solidarity among Tanzanians in Iran and the government’s consistent support through diplomatic channels, which eased their journey home.

“The process of returning was difficult but thanks to the close coordination with our academic leaders and the embassy, every step was handled with care. We are deeply thankful to the government for their unwavering support,” she said.

Another student, Shazrina Kitutu, who was studying Computer Engineering at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, also expressed his gratitude to the government for its swift and decisive intervention through the ministry and the embassy.

“We sincerely thank President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan. Without the government’s swift action, we don’t know where we’d be today. The commitment you’ve shown to protect Tanzanians is deeply appreciated. Thank you for bringing us home safely,” he said.