Amidst the ongoing crisis in West Asia, the Indian government has made major preparations for the safety and assistance of its citizens living in Gulf countries. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed on Wednesday that all Indian missions and embassies in the region are now functioning 24 hours. Officials are in constant touch with Indian communities and organizations so that immediate help can be provided to citizens in case of any emergency.
👉: Saudi Arabia New Alert: Sound of explosions heard in Riyadh, emergency message received on people’s phones.
Necessary steps taken for the safety of Indians
The Ministry of External Affairs has set up a special control room to monitor the situation which is answering the questions of the affected people and their families. Along with this, 24×7 helpline numbers have been started in all Indian embassies.
Indian missions are continuously issuing new advisories so that people remain updated. The Directorate General of Shipping has formed a quick response team for seafarers. Indian citizens have been advised to follow the rules of local authorities and the Embassy. Embassies also facilitate border crossing between countries like UAE to Oman and Qatar to Saudi Arabia. Commercial flights have been approved for the return of passengers after the partial opening of airspace.
Latest data on student safety and repatriation
Special attention is being paid to the safety of Indian students living in the Gulf region. According to senior Foreign Ministry official Asim R Mahajan, the mission is in direct touch with the schools and CBSE. Due to the crisis, ICSE and Kerala Board have canceled examinations in the region, the numbers of which will be decided later.
Details Data/Information Safely returned Indians (1-7 March) Over 52,000 Total returnees (till 9 March) Around 67,000 Indians reached Armenia from Iran 170 citizens Helpline status Decrease in calls and inquiries recorded
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken to the Iranian President and expressed concern about the safety of Indian citizens. The government has appealed to all parties to exercise restraint and reduce tension through dialogue. At present, work has also been done to shift Indian students from Tehran, Iran to other safe cities.
