NewKerala.com

South Korea Seeks UAE Help to Evacuate 3,000 Stranded Tourists Amid Conflict

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held urgent phone talks with his UAE counterpart, Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to coordinate the evacuation of approximately 3,000 South Korean tourists stranded due to flight disruptions. Seoul is exploring options including chartered or military aircraft to bring its citizens home from the conflict-hit region. The ministers also discussed significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including airports, in Gulf Cooperation Council countries following recent attacks. South Korea has simultaneously raised its travel alert for Iran to a full ban, warning citizens against travel to the region.

Key Points: S. Korea, UAE Coordinate Evacuation of Stranded Citizens

  • 3,000 S. Korean tourists stranded in UAE
  • Seoul considering chartered or military flights
  • Travel ban imposed on Iran
  • Civilian airport damage in Gulf states
  • 21,000 Koreans across 10 Middle East nations
2 min read

Foreign Minister Cho, UAE counterpart discuss Middle East conflict, South Korean evacuation

South Korean FM Cho Hyun discusses Middle East conflict and evacuation of 3,000 stranded tourists with UAE counterpart Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

"some 3,000 short-term Korean travelers are seeking to return home from the UAE amid flight disruptions - South Korean Foreign Ministry"

Seoul, March 6

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has spoken by phone with his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates to discuss the Middle East conflict and coordinate efforts to bring home South Korean nationals stranded in the UAE, the foreign ministry said on Friday.

During the phone talks Thursday with Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE's foreign minister, Cho explained that some 3,000 short-term Korean travelers are seeking to return home from the UAE amid flight disruptions, calling for the UAE government's special attention and support to ensure their safe departure.

Seoul is considering various options to bring its citizens home from the conflict-hit region, including sending chartered planes or military aircraft.

As many as 3,000 South Korean tourists remain stranded in the UAE, while about 21,000 Koreans are estimated to be staying across 10 Middle Eastern countries.

Abdullah said the Iranian attacks have caused significant damage to civilian facilities, such as airports, in the nine-member Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.

Cho expressed deep concern over civilian casualties and damage and conveyed his condolences and solidarity. He also voiced grave concern over the escalating conflict and expressed hope that there will be no further loss of life and that the situation will be resolved as soon as possible, Yonhap news agency reported.

Earlier on March 5, South Korea had imposed a travel ban on all of Iran amid rising security concerns linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

A Level 3 travel alert, which advises nationals to leave the country, was upgraded to a travel ban effective at 6 p.m., the ministry had said, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The ministry had warned that Korean nationals who visit or stay in Iran without authorisation may face punishment under relevant laws, advising those planning to travel to the region to cancel their trips and urging those currently there to evacuate.'

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Sending chartered planes is the right move. When our Indian students were stuck in Ukraine, our government did Operation Ganga. Every country has a duty to bring its people home safely. Hope all those Korean tourists get back soon 🙏
A
Aman W
The Middle East conflict is causing so much disruption. Many Indians work in the UAE and GCC countries. I hope our MEA is also closely monitoring the situation for any impact on the Indian diaspora there.
S
Sarah B
While the evacuation effort is commendable, one has to ask why 3000 tourists were still there when tensions were clearly escalating? Travel advisories exist for a reason. Hopefully, this serves as a lesson for travelers worldwide.
V
Vikram M
The real tragedy is the damage to civilian facilities and loss of innocent lives. Conflicts far away affect ordinary people everywhere. Diplomacy is the only way forward. Hope for peace and stability in the region soon.
K
Kavya N
️ 21,000 Koreans across 10 countries! That's a huge number. It shows how interconnected our world is. Makes you appreciate the hard work our embassies do during crises. Wishing a safe return for all stranded people.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50