Prime Minister John Key says the Government may consider using Defence Force planes to get New Zealanders out of Egypt if the situation worsens. Several countries are organising charter flights to get their citizens out of Egypt, including the United States, Australia, China and Japan, amid reports hundreds of people are stranded at Cairo International Airport after dozens of flights were cancelled. Mr Key says the Government is urging New Zealanders in Egypt to leave and providing whatever support it can. Using Defence Force planes is an option if the Government thinks it needs too, but it has not yet been advised this is the case, he says. The New Zealand embassy in Cairo has been unable to reopen after the demonstrations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says the ground floor of the embassy has been damaged during the protests and the building has no electricity. Staff are working from Ambassador Rene Wilson's residence.
The New Zealand Embassy Cairo, Egypt
Contact details are
Street Address 8th floor, North Tower, Nile City building, Corniche El Nil, Ramlet Beaulac, Cairo, Egypt
Telephone +202 2461 6000 Facsimile +202 2461 6099
Email: enquiries@nzembassy.org.eg
Website: www.nzembassy.com/egypt
Office Hours Sun-Thur 0900-1600 hrs
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