DOHA, March 2. /Dunyo IA/. According to the Embassy of Uzbekistan, in Qatar, in the context of recent developments in the Middle East, there are no Uzbek citizens among those injured, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

According to the Embassy, as of March 1, approximately 600 citizens of Uzbekistan are in Qatar. Among them:

31 are employees of diplomatic missions and their family members;

40 are students studying in Doha;

250 are citizens working temporarily in the country;

270 people are visiting for tourism and other reasons.

On February 28, due to the temporary closure of Qatari airspace and the cancellation of several international flights, 48 Uzbek citizens were stranded at Hamad International Airport in Doha. They were scheduled to fly to Tashkent via the airports of Sharjah, Dubai and Almaty.

The administration of Hamad International Airport and airlines including “Qatar Airways”, “Air Arabia” and “Saudia Airlines” reported that they were unable to provide hotel accommodations for passengers. On the same day, diplomats traveled to the airport, met with fellow citizens, assessed their condition and held negotiations with the airlines and airport administration. Constant communication was established with the citizens and necessary consular assistance was provided.

Specifically, contact was established that same evening with these individuals and other compatriots who reached out via social media; they were provided with practical assistance and temporary hotel accommodation.

It should be noted that the flight cancellations constitute an emergency situation affecting citizens of all countries and are occurring under conditions of limited accommodation capacity by the airlines. Nevertheless, Embassy continues to protect the interests of our citizens and provide them with assistance within the scope of available resources.

Our citizens will be able to return home once Qatari airspace reopens and air traffic resumes.

Systematic efforts are currently under way to safeguard the rights and legitimate interests of citizens and to facilitate their safe return to the country. A register of citizens has been compiled and is being continuously updated.

Embassy, for its part, once again urges our citizens not to panic, to remain calm, and to rely exclusively on official sources for information regarding ongoing developments. From a security standpoint, citizens are strongly advised to strictly follow the instructions and regulations issued by the competent authorities of the State of Qatar, to refrain from leaving their residences unless absolutely necessary and to avoid areas where large gatherings may occur.

Embassy has also called on all compatriots temporarily staying in Qatar for tourism purposes to contact the Consul of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Otabek Muratov, at +974 5141 1001.