DIRCO urges South Africans in Middle East to GET OUT
DIRCO has urged South Africans currently in the Middle East to make use of limited flight opportunities to leave the region.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has urged South Africans currently in the Middle East to make use of limited flight opportunities to leave the region as tensions and attacks escalate.
The department warned that heavy attacks are expected to continue in the coming days, prompting authorities to encourage citizens to prioritise their safety and depart while travel options remain available.
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Contact consular support
South Africans in the region have been advised to contact consular support through details listed on the DIRCO website and to register their presence on the government’s Travel Smart system.
According to the department, more than 6 400 South Africans have already registered their presence in the region, reflecting growing concern among citizens abroad.
DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said the majority of South Africans in the region are based in the United Arab Emirates and Doha, where South Africa maintains strong diplomatic missions capable of providing assistance if necessary.
“For some who are in Bahrain, we are able to advise them on how to exit using some other land borders or land facilities where possible,” Phiri said.
“But as you would know, the airspace in that region remains quite volatile. There are small windows of opening and closing from time to time and we’ve encouraged South Africans to use those windows where the airspace is open, if they can, to get the next flight back home.”
Phiri also strongly discouraged South Africans from undertaking non-essential travel to the region while the security situation remains uncertain.
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