Published March 3, 2026 — last updated March 3, 2026
Germany’s plan to evacuate stranded travelers from the Gulf has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, which say the government’s response has been too slow, limited and poorly communicated. Police have also warned of scams targeting travelers trying to rebook flights.
What you need to know
– Opposition parties in the Bundestag say Berlin’s response has been too slow and too limited.
– The Greens say the Foreign Office was unprepared for the crisis.
– The socialist Left Party says the evacuation strategy is creating uncertainty.
– Police warn that scammers are exploiting panic around flight changes.
Police warn of fake flight rebooking hotlines
Authorities have reported fraudsters placing paid search ads that direct travelers to fake service numbers posing as airlines or booking portals. A woman in Lower Bavaria was scammed out of €2,500 after using such a number.
The Bavarian State Criminal Police Office advises using hotline numbers only from an airline’s or booking platform’s official website, and to make booking changes only through a personal customer account. Travelers should ignore unfamiliar callback numbers or support links in cancellation notices and never grant remote access to a phone or computer; if remote access is requested, end the call, disconnect from the internet and contact your bank immediately.
Left says response creates uncertainty
The socialist Left Party’s foreign policy spokesperson, Cansu Özdemir, criticized the government’s crisis communication as inadequate. She said Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul’s statement that initially only older people, children, the sick and pregnant women would be evacuated “creates further uncertainty.” Özdemir urged the government to present clear plans quickly for evacuating all roughly 30,000 Germans believed to be affected.
Greens criticize Gulf evacuation plan
Green foreign affairs expert Luise Amtsberg said the government’s measures are insufficient and late. She said the current escalation in the Middle East had been foreseeable and warned that the federal government appears unprepared and overwhelmed. Announcing evacuations for only vulnerable groups on the third day after the outbreak of war, she said, is not enough.
Government measures
Foreign Minister Wadephul announced plans to send charter flights to Saudi Arabia and Oman to airlift stranded German travelers, and to deploy crisis support teams to Muscat, Doha and Dubai. The Foreign Office says initial repatriation efforts will focus on particularly vulnerable groups: the sick, children and pregnant women.
Background
Tens of thousands of travelers from various countries, including Germans, have been affected by the escalation in the Gulf region. Opposition parties are pressing the government for faster, clearer and more comprehensive evacuation plans while authorities warn citizens to be vigilant against fraudsters exploiting the situation.