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South Africans are scrambling to book flights out of the Middle East as the government urges its nationals in the region to “take immediate advantage” of the resumption of limited commercial flights.
The travel rush follows escalating tensions in the Gulf after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on Saturday. Iran later retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting US bases in several Gulf countries, triggering widespread airspace closures and flight suspensions across the region.
Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) disclosed over the weekend that South African nationals stranded in the Middle East had been calling on the government for assistance. However, DIRCO said there was little it could do because airspaces in the region had been closed.
The department’s spokesperson also noted that some citizens fail to inform authorities when they travel abroad, making it difficult for the government to track and assist them during crises.
In a statement released on Wednesday, DIRCO howver said it has recorded a significant increase in registrations on its Travel Smart system, with more than 6,400 South African citizens in the Middle East registering their presence as of 4 March.
It also advised South Africans in the region to evacuate via the limited commercial flights that have resumed in the region.
“We urge all citizens to note that several airlines have resumed limited commercial flights out of the region. Citizens are strongly encouraged to take immediate advantage of this opportunity to leave, as heavy attacks are regrettably expected to continue in the coming days. Your safety is our paramount concern,” the department said.
There is no end in sight to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East as the conflicting parties have failed to yield to mounting pressures from the United Nations and other world leaders to resolve their conflict peacefully.
