North Macedonia's Foreign Ministry concluded an evacuation contract for Macedonian citizens from the Middle East worth 59.8 million denars (approximately 972,000 euros). The contract was concluded with an air transport company through an emergency procedure, without public tender.

Four evacuation flights carrying 458 evacuated passengers have been completed. Foreign Minister Timco Mucinski previously stated that Macedonian citizens will not be charged for evacuation costs. The Government justified emergency procurements with urgent circumstances arising from the ongoing Middle East conflict.

473 citizens registered at Macedonian diplomatic missions requesting evacuation from Israel, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. A second group of evacuated citizens landed safely at Skopje International Airport after departing from Dubai.

The contract was concluded after the initial tender process did not yield acceptable offers, and the ministry anticipated that safe air corridors would open soon, seeking urgent transport arrangements.