The International Relations Department of South Africa has issued an urgent advisory for citizens currently residing in the Middle East. As conflict intensifies in the region, it has encouraged South Africans to take immediate action by utilising the limited flight opportunities available to exit safely.
According to a spokesperson for the department, Chrispin Phiri, the ongoing violence has raised alarms, with heavy attacks anticipated in the coming days. In light of this, South Africans are strongly discouraged from embarking on any non-essential travel to the affected areas.
Phiri stated, “Most of our South Africans are in the UAE and Doha, and we have strong missions there who are able to access those individuals, if need be.” He urged those in more precarious locations, such as Bahrain, to follow guidance on exiting through land borders or facilities, as the airspace remains highly unstable.
In a show of growing concern, the number of South Africans registering on the Travel Smart system has surged, surpassing 6,400 registrations. This uptick reflects the heightened awareness of the rapidly changing situation in the Middle East.
Phiri emphasised the importance of seizing the fleeting moments when air travel becomes available, stating, “There’s 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.”