Although the international flight ban was extended another month this week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it would arrange relief flights for Myanmar citizens stuck outside of the country or those who need to travel outside Myanmar for emergency errands. These include things like urgent medical procedures, classes in foreign universities, and overseas jobs, state media reported.

These relief flights come despite Myanmar’s staunch COVID-19 containment measures, especially for international travel by both air or land. Of Myanmar’s around 350 (at the time of writing) confirmed COVID-19 cases, at least 160 were returnees who contracted the virus abroad, according to the Myanmar Times. Thus, although it has lifted several in-country restrictions, the government has been extremely slow to lift the ban on international flights and most visas. Indeed, Vice President Henry Van Thio commented that the ban may last until the end of the year. Though it may be warranted from a public health perspective, economically the ban has devastated Myanmar’s once-booming tourism industry. Furthermore, foreign investments and interest in the Yangon Stock Exchange (which recently allowed trades by foreigners) have been down. Many permanent expats have found themselves unable to re-enter the country, with many posting on expat social media communities about the possibility of catching rides back into Myanmar on the relief flights.

According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs data reported by The Star, nearly 9000 Myanmar citizens have already been brought back via special flights.