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South Korea Evacuates 203 Nationals from UAE Amid Middle East Tensions

A chartered Etihad Airways flight has departed Abu Dhabi carrying 203 South Korean nationals and three foreign spouses back to Incheon. The evacuation comes as South Korea seeks to repatriate thousands of its citizens stranded in the UAE due to regional flight disruptions. In response to escalating tensions, the Foreign Ministry has raised travel alerts to Level 3 for seven Middle Eastern countries, advising citizens to leave. The government has dispatched a rapid response team to assist with the ongoing evacuation operations.

Key Points: South Korea Evacuates Citizens from UAE on Chartered Flight

  • Chartered flight evacuates 203 South Koreans
  • Travel alerts raised for 7 Middle East nations
  • 3,000 nationals initially stranded in UAE
  • Joint rapid response team dispatched to UAE
2 min read

Chartered plane departs from UAE to bring 203 South Koreans home: Ministry

A chartered flight departs UAE with 203 South Koreans as tensions rise. Travel alerts raised for 7 Middle Eastern countries. Get the latest details.

"We are calling for South Korean nationals planning to visit those regions to cancel or postpone their trip. - South Korean Foreign Ministry"

Seoul, March 8

A chartered plane departed from the United Arab Emirates on Sunday to bring home hundreds of South Koreans stranded in the Middle Eastern country amid the escalating conflict between Iran and the United States, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said.

An Etihad Airways chartered flight carrying 203 South Koreans and their three foreign spouses departed from Abu Dhabi at 5:35 p.m. (Korean time), according to the ministry. The plane is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, at around 2 a.m. Monday, Yonhap News Agency reported.

South Korea has been seeking to bring home some 3,000 nationals stranded in the UAE due to flight disruptions amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Around 1,500 South Koreans, including those aboard the chartered plane, have left from the UAE since flights heading to and departing from the country have been resumed.

The Foreign Ministry has dispatched a joint rapid response team to the UAE to assist evacuation operations. Since early Saturday, the South Korean Embassy in the UAE has received applications from South Korean nationals wishing to board the chartered plane.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry raised travel alerts for Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

A Level 3 travel alert, which advises nationals to leave the country, will be applied to the seven countries as of Sunday from a special travel advisory, according to the ministry.

In particular, all areas of Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait will be subject to the Level 3 alert.

"We are calling for South Korean nationals planning to visit those regions to cancel or postpone their trip," the ministry said. "We are also urging those staying there to withdraw unless business is urgent."

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The situation in the Middle East is getting really tense. This is a stark reminder for all of us with family working in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi etc. We should keep in touch and have an emergency plan. Safety first.
A
Aman W
Respect to the South Korean government for this organized evacuation. Sending a rapid response team is key. When tensions flared up a few years back, our 'Operation Raahat' to bring Indians back from Yemen was also very commendable. It's during these times you appreciate having a government that looks out for its people abroad.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the travel alerts being raised to Level 3 for so many countries at once. It must be a very serious assessment of the risk. I have friends in Dubai for work, hope they are staying safe and considering their options.
V
Vikram M
Only 203 on a chartered flight? The article says 1500 have left already and 3000 were stranded. Seems like the process is slow or maybe not everyone wants to leave their jobs and life behind. Can't blame them, but the uncertainty is scary.
K
Karthik V
This is a sobering read. The Gulf region is home to millions of Indian workers. While this is about South Koreans, it directly highlights the volatility that could impact our brothers and sisters there. Our embassies need to be on high alert. Jai Hind.

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