site.btaForeign Ministry Recommends All Bulgarians in Middle East Countries to Remain in Safe Locations, Avoid Travelling

The Foreign Ministry recommends that all Bulgarian citizens currently in the affected countries – Israel, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan and Lebanon – remain in safe locations, avoid undertaking risky travel to leave the respective country through its land borders, and strictly follow the instructions of the local authorities, the Ministry’s press centre said on Tuesday.

Bulgarians in these countries are advised to monitor developments closely, heed the recommendations of the local authorities, and maintain contact with Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions, as well as with one another, while remaining calm and ready for possible further organization should additional measures be required to guarantee their safety.

At present, the airspace over Saudi Arabia, Oman, Lebanon and Jordan remains open. For Jordan, there is information about a partial daily closure of the airspace between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. until further notice. Given the dynamically evolving situation, changes are possible.

The Foreign Ministry recommends that Bulgarian citizens refrain from travelling to the region or transiting through the affected countries, taking into account the current situation and the announced level of risk for the respective country, as published on the Ministry’s website.

The Ministry maintains constant coordination with the Tourism and Transport Ministries, as well as with the office of the caretaker Prime Minister, in order to ensure timely assistance to Bulgarian citizens prevented from returning to the country.

At this stage, efforts are focused on evacuating Bulgarian citizens from the countries directly affected by military action. Bulgarian nationals impacted by suspended flights at airports in the Middle East, but who are outside areas of active hostilities, should remain in contact with their airlines or tour operators to arrange alternative routes through third countries for their return to Bulgaria.

The Foreign Ministry’s crisis headquarters is operating around the clock and is receiving and processing all calls and reports from the region and other parts of the world. Requests for assistance can be submitted via the 24-hour telephone lines of the Situation Centre and the newly opened lines of the crisis headquarters for direct contact with Bulgarian citizens stranded in the Middle East region: +359 2 948 3051; +359 2 948 3052; +359 2 948 2085; +359 2 948 2087; +359 2 948 3124; +359 2 948 2798; +359 2 948 2552; +359 2 948 2086.