Tight embraces, kisses, smiles, banners with heartfelt messages. These were the scenes that prevailed at midnight at “Eleftherios Venizelos” airport, as friends and relatives waited for their loved ones who had been trapped in the Middle East due to rapid developments in the region. Shortly before 11:30 PM on Saturday (07/03), the massive Emirates Airbus A388, operating special flight EK2553 organized by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, landed carrying approximately 450 Greeks who had been stranded in Dubai. The arrivals area had been flooded with dozens of relatives and friends since 9:30 PM, who welcomed their loved ones with visible relief as they managed to escape the war zone of the Middle East.
Shocking testimonies from repatriated citizens – “We kept hearing ‘boom, boom, boom'”
The repatriated citizens described in detail the situation they experienced in recent days, focusing on continuous interceptions and the sound of explosions. The first passenger who spoke said: “The first days when there were quite intense, yes, quite intense interceptions, the whole situation was somewhat intense, but yes, it was a bit strange. We kept hearing boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.”
As he explained, receiving alerts via mobile phone messages had become daily routine: “Yes, yes, these came daily, especially in recent days. The first days we didn’t have such messages, but yesterday, today, the day before yesterday we had them daily. There are still drones being shot down, but it’s ok. It’s safe at the moment. We’re waiting to go back because we live there and we thank the Greek state for bringing us here today.”
“It was terrifying, all Greeks stood by each other”
Particularly emotional was the testimony of a mother who focused on the anxiety that war causes when there are small children in the family. “We’re fine. The state’s work was very good, very organized. They protected us well. Nevertheless, it’s terrifying to hear no matter how well they protect us,” she noted and added:
“There were moments when we were a bit scared, especially those of us with small children. We thank them very much for the work they do. We thank our own state very much for bringing us, the employees at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who worked very hard these days to organize all this. Our embassy, our own, the staff at the embassy, our own and here the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all the Greeks in the groups. So one was next to the other, we talked, we informed each other. So gratitude to everyone. What can I say. Everyone experiences it differently. Some are calmer, some more frightened. Generally the situation was good, but with the children, a little fear and we’re happy we came, that we managed.”
She also described the psychological pressure from unusual sounds: “Some moments when you hear the sounds even though you know nothing is coming, that they will intercept it. And yet, at least I don’t know because I’m a woman, because I have small children? I don’t know why, but some moments yes, you feel insecurity. I haven’t been close to a strike, no, but we heard it and the sounds were something unusual for us.”
“There was an attack on the marina, but people are fine”
A third female passenger conveyed her experience of immediate threat management, as well as her intention to return soon to Dubai where she lives permanently. “It was a difficult situation. We knew it. There was an attack with a drone. They shot it down and put us all in a room to be safe,” she emphasized. She mentioned that “there was a very small attack tonight at the marina, but still people are fine. I at least will return to my home in ten days.”
The repatriation operation was completed successfully, however anxiety remains for those who have left behind their properties and jobs – or even their loved ones, hoping for a quick de-escalation of the crisis.
