The U.S. State Department said, in a statement Tuesday, that more than 40,000 Americans have returned to the United States from the Middle East since the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28, although the vast majority of those have made it home commercially without government assistance.

Axar.az reports, citing AP, that the Department has organized more than two dozen charter flights carrying thousands of U.S. citizens from various Middle Eastern countries to either the United States or Europe.

More than 27,000 who have sought help “have declined assistance when offered, opting either to remain in country or book more convenient commercial flight options,” the State Department said.

“At this time, seats available on the department’s charter options are significantly greater than the demand from Americans in the region,” it said, adding that those charter flights “continue to operate with less than 40% occupancy on average.”