Charter Flight with Afghan Evacuees Arrives in Hannover Amid Political Tensions
Another batch of nearly 200 Afghans lands in Germany as CDU calls for halt of flights until new government is formed.
On March 26, 2025, a charter flight carrying approximately 200 Afghan evacuees landed at Hannover Airport, having originated from Islamabad, Pakistan, with a stopover in Dubai.
The flight's manifest included a significant number of women and children, highlighting the vulnerability of those evacuated from Afghanistan.
The aircraft was parked at Terminal D, which is currently designated for non-standard passenger traffic.
Despite opposition from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which advocates for the cessation of further Afghan evacuation flights pending the establishment of a new government, this flight underscored Germany's ongoing commitment to assisting vulnerable Afghans.
The CDU has previously expressed concerns regarding the transparency of the evacuation process and has called on the Foreign Office to pause operations until the incoming government can address admissions strategies.
Reports indicate that the flight experienced delays due to complications related to visa processing.
Specific issues included the invalidation of at least three travel documents shortly before departure, which complicated the boarding of designated evacuees.
This operation forms part of a broader effort to facilitate the relocation of approximately 2,800 Afghans who are currently in Pakistan and have already received pre-approval to enter Germany.
Evacuating these individuals involves a meticulous visa application process that incorporates a security review.
The German government is extending support to the evacuees through the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), which is responsible for managing various services including accommodation, sustenance, medical care, and psychosocial support.
GIZ has estimated that expenditures for these services will reach approximately €82.7 million between 2022 and 2024.
Previously, another charter flight successfully transported 155 Afghans to Berlin at the end of February 2025, followed by a subsequent flight bringing in 132 individuals in early March.
Many of the evacuees are part of specific assistance programs aimed at helping particularly vulnerable groups, including those eligible for the federal admissions program, the human rights list, and local staff initiatives.
As political discussions unfold, CDU representatives have intensified their calls for a revised process to ensure transparency and accountability in future evacuation efforts from Afghanistan.
The flight's manifest included a significant number of women and children, highlighting the vulnerability of those evacuated from Afghanistan.
The aircraft was parked at Terminal D, which is currently designated for non-standard passenger traffic.
Despite opposition from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which advocates for the cessation of further Afghan evacuation flights pending the establishment of a new government, this flight underscored Germany's ongoing commitment to assisting vulnerable Afghans.
The CDU has previously expressed concerns regarding the transparency of the evacuation process and has called on the Foreign Office to pause operations until the incoming government can address admissions strategies.
Reports indicate that the flight experienced delays due to complications related to visa processing.
Specific issues included the invalidation of at least three travel documents shortly before departure, which complicated the boarding of designated evacuees.
This operation forms part of a broader effort to facilitate the relocation of approximately 2,800 Afghans who are currently in Pakistan and have already received pre-approval to enter Germany.
Evacuating these individuals involves a meticulous visa application process that incorporates a security review.
The German government is extending support to the evacuees through the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), which is responsible for managing various services including accommodation, sustenance, medical care, and psychosocial support.
GIZ has estimated that expenditures for these services will reach approximately €82.7 million between 2022 and 2024.
Previously, another charter flight successfully transported 155 Afghans to Berlin at the end of February 2025, followed by a subsequent flight bringing in 132 individuals in early March.
Many of the evacuees are part of specific assistance programs aimed at helping particularly vulnerable groups, including those eligible for the federal admissions program, the human rights list, and local staff initiatives.
As political discussions unfold, CDU representatives have intensified their calls for a revised process to ensure transparency and accountability in future evacuation efforts from Afghanistan.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
