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British travellers stuck in West Africa to be flown home

Up to 380 British travellers stuck in West Africa and the Cape Verde islands are to be flown home on government rescue flights.

Two flights chartered by the government will operate from Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire on June 2 and Cape Verde and Liberia on June 3.

Priority will be is given to the most vulnerable travellers, particularly people with health conditions.

The new flights follow more than 6,000 British nationals who have already flown home from across sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Foreign Office.

Africa minister James Duddridge, said: “These two flights from West Africa will mean up to 380 British travellers from Cape Verde, Cȏte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Liberia are able to return home.

“We have now chartered 29 flights from sub-Saharan Africa and will have helped over 6,000 British nationals get back to the UK.

“This has been a logistical challenge and I am grateful for the continued co-operation and support from the local authorities in all these countries.”

Charter flights have returned British travellers from countries across the world including India, Pakistan, Nigeria, The Gambia, South Africa, Nepal, Ghana, Tunisia, Algeria and Peru as part of a £75 million repatriation scheme agreed with airlines.

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