All Fijian nationals in the Middle East — including members of the Fijian diaspora, Embassy staff and Fijian peacekeepers deployed in the region — are safe, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade said in a statement this afternoon. The Ministry said it has not received any reports of Fijian nationals being harmed or injured as a result of the current conflict.
The statement said Fiji’s embassies in Abu Dhabi and Jerusalem remain in regular contact with local authorities and with members of the Fijian community. Those missions continue to provide consular assistance where required, working closely with the Ministry of Immigration and other relevant authorities to respond to any requests for help.
As the security situation in the region rapidly evolves, the Ministry issued an updated travel advisory. Fijian nationals are strongly advised not to travel to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen because of ongoing armed conflict, missile and drone attacks, and severe security risks. The Ministry singled out those countries as posing heightened and immediate danger.
The advisory also urged Fijians to reconsider non-essential travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia. It said regional security tensions and disruptions to aviation — including reported missile and drone incidents in parts of the region — have caused interruptions to airspace and international travel routes that increase risks for travellers and those transiting these countries.
The Ministry emphasised it is closely monitoring a volatile and unpredictable security environment and will provide further updates as necessary. Fijians in the region who require consular assistance or who wish to notify authorities of their whereabouts are being asked to make contact with the nearest Fiji diplomatic mission or the Ministry’s emergency contact points.
This update is the latest in routine messaging from the Ministry as the situation in the Middle East continues to change. Authorities reiterated that, while no Fijian casualties have been reported so far, the dynamic nature of the conflict means the travel advice and consular arrangements could be revised at short notice.
Leave a comment