Amid recent events in the Middle East, no Uzbek citizens have been identified as casualties in Qatar. This was reported by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Qatar.
According to the "Dunyo" news agency, as of March 1, there are about 600 Uzbek citizens in Qatar. Of these, 48 compatriots were stranded at Hamad International Airport in Doha on February 28 due to the temporary closure of Qatar's airspace and the cancellation of several international flights. They were scheduled to fly to Tashkent via airports in Sharjah, Dubai, and Almaty.
The administration of Hamad International Airport, as well as airlines Qatar Airways, Air Arabia, and Saudia Airlines, reported limited ability to provide hotels for passengers.
On the same day, embassy staff went to the airport, assessed the citizens' condition, and held negotiations with the airlines and airport administration. The embassy established constant communication with the citizens and provided necessary consular assistance.
Specifically, contact was made with a citizen who sought help on social media and other compatriots, practical assistance was provided, and the citizens were temporarily accommodated in a hotel.
According to the embassy, the flight cancellations are an emergency situation affecting citizens of various countries, occurring under limited accommodation possibilities. Despite this, the diplomatic mission continues to work on protecting citizens' interests within available means.
It is emphasized that after Qatar's airspace opens and air traffic resumes, citizens will be able to return home. Currently, consistent work is underway to ensure the rights and legal interests of citizens and facilitate their safe return. A passenger list has been compiled and is regularly updated.
The embassy urges citizens not to panic, rely only on official sources of information about events, and recommends for safety reasons to fully comply with the instructions of Qatari official bodies and local laws and regulations, avoid going outside unnecessarily, and steer clear of crowded places.
Compatriots temporarily in Qatar for tourism purposes can contact embassy consul Otabek Murodov by phone: +974 5141 1001.
Source: kun.uz