PARLIAMENT has demanded the immediate return of around 1,000 Bahrainis stranded in Iraq after the country’s national carrier suspended flights amid escalating security tensions.
MPs unanimously voted yesterday in favour of the urgent proposal to have the government intervene as many of the travellers have not been able to find a flight back home on other regional airlines.
Gulf Air suspended flights to Baghdad and Najaf following a US drone strike that killed Iran’s top military commander and leader of its elite Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, on January 3 at Baghdad International Airport.
MPs yesterday claimed that Bahrainis who travelled to Baghdad and Najaf on board Gulf Air flights have been compensated with $100 each to make other travel arrangements.
They also said during their weekly session that the airline provided special flights on January 8 and 9 to bring Bahrainis home, but after regional tensions heightened last week it made the payments to the passengers in co-ordination with Bahrain’s Embassy in Baghdad and Bahrain’s Consulate in Najaf.
“Bahrainis who travelled before the incident are now due to return back but are not finding any alternative travel arrangements that match the compensation presented by Gulf Air which is $100 (around BD37),” said MP Ahmed Al Demistani.
“The emergency flights only covered 500 Bahrainis and they were the ones who were scheduled to return home on those two days while others are left stranded – most are families and are now being forced to pay for additional hotel accommodation and other expenses.
“We want the proper return of Bahrainis from Iraq and Gulf Air needs to take the matter more seriously.”
His comments were reiterated by his colleagues who also called on the Foreign Ministry to step in and ensure citizens returned to Bahrain safely.
“Many Bahrainis have made arrangements, at triple the cost, to return to Bahrain by land through Kuwait and it is much more than the $100 provided by Gulf Air,” said MP Zainab Abdulamir.
“The Foreign Ministry needs to step in and do something to ensure the safety and well-being of Bahrainis who are around 1,000.
“There is no such thing as it is not our fault that flights have been suspended – there are Bahrainis who need to return home.”
The proposal, which was presented by five MPs from the Bahrain Bloc, has been referred to the Cabinet for urgent action.
Meanwhile, Dairy Travels, which is the largest religious tour operator in the country, told the GDN it has faced difficulties in making alternative travel arrangements through Iraqi Airways and Fly Baghdad, which still operate to and from Bahrain International Airport, as the flights are almost full until the end of the month.
Partner and managing director Hussain Al Dairy also urged the government to step in and charter flights to ensure all citizens returned from Iraq safely.
“We are the biggest tour religious operator in Bahrain for the last 60 years, but that’s irrelevant compared to the ordeal of Bahrainis who need to return back to Bahrain to their families and to their work,” he said.
“The $100 is nothing as it doesn’t even cover hotel, food or transportation costs for the additional days spent there until a solution is found for the return – since the two Iraqi operators flying to Bahrain are full until the end of the month.
Cost
“We have provided help to those stranded to stay in hotels and give them meals, but the government needs to step in and charter flights from Iraq because Gulf Air only covered those who had scheduled return flights on January 8 and 9.”
The GDN reached out to Gulf Air for a comment which pledged it will respond.
The drone strike on January 3 was ordered by US President Donald Trump which also resulted in the death of senior Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis.
In retaliation, Iran launched missile attacks at US military forces at Al Assad and Irbil bases in Iraq. Since then the US has announced the deployment of more than 3,000 service members to the Middle East as tensions rise following the killing of the Iranian military commander, who is known to have orchestrated clandestine operations in the Middle East and targeted US forces and their interests.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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