(Reuters) – More than 550 Russian nationals, including 230 children, have been evacuated from the Gaza Strip since the start of the process a week ago, Russia’s emergencies ministry said on Sunday.
Of those evacuated, 408 people have already been brought to Moscow, including 120 Russians that arrived late Saturday on a special flight from Egypt, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app.
A limited evacuation, which began on Nov. 1, of foreign passport holders and Palestinians needing urgent medical treatment to Egypt has faced difficulties. It has been paused several times due to bombardments that aid staff said hit or targeted medical convoys.
It is unclear how many Russian citizens are expected to leave Gaza. According to Russian media, some 1,000 Russians and nationals from the republics of the former Soviet Union have expressed a wish to leave.
(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
