Croatia's diplomatic and consular offices, together with the Consular Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, continue to work intensely on repatriating Croatian nationals from EU and non-EU countries.
The Croatian Embassy to North Macedonia has ensured unhindered transit of a fourth humanitarian convoy with 72 Croatian nationals from Skopje, with preparations underway to organize a fifth convoy with more than 100 Croatian nationals. In addition, 38 citizens have been brought back from Morocco, 23 from Tunisia, 11 from New Zealand, 10 from South Africa, 7 from Russia, 3 from Saudi Arabia, 2 from Senegal and 2 from Gabon.
The Croatian Embassy in Berlin had coordinated with the embassies in Vienna and Ljubljana the return of 55 Croatian nationals by bus. The Croatian Embassy in Warsaw has enabled the repatriation of 10 Croatian and several Slovenian nationals.
In countries like Iran, where the European External Action Service has no representation, Croatia's presidency is coordinating activities in cooperation with the other member states and has to date assisted in the repatriation of more than 1,000 EU citizens.
In addition to past repatriations from various Italian regions by plane, catamaran or bus, 18 Croatian nationals have been repatriated by the "Marco Polo" vessel from Ancona. Also, thanks to the Croatian Embassy in Rome and Consulate General in Milan, 9 Croatian seamen have been brought back from a vessel harbored in Genoa, as well as 4 seamen from Denmark with assistance from the Croatian Embassy in Copenhagen.
Despite all of the airports being shut down, the Croatian Consulate General in Dubai arranged last month a flight carrying EU citizens, including 32 Croatian nationals, to Zagreb. Another flight on the same route is being planned in the following days for more than 100 passengers. In coordination between the Croatian Embassy in Ankara and the Turkish Embassy in Zagreb, a repatriation flight from Istanbul to Zagreb has been organized last week for 23 Croatian nationals.
It is important to underline the special efforts Croatia's diplomatic and consular offices have been making to repatriate Croatian nationals, especially from areas under strict lockdown and with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, as well as coordination with all EU member states and care for all EU citizens in third countries.