It's still unclear when our Defence Force will be able to evacuate New Zealanders out of war-afflicted areas in the Middle East.

Kiwis there are being urged to alert SafeTravel, with 3000 already registered in the region.

Defence Minister Judith Collins says our planes will leave in the coming days and will take people to safer nearby areas, when conditions allow.

She says they're prepared to take thousands if necessary.

"Well, if they wanted to go, we would simply have to make it happen, but we would obviously have to do it in relays." 

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