Larnaca, Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot officials said 37 Turkish Cypriots stranded in Dubai returned to the island via Larnaca airport on Thursday amid hostilities in the Middle East. Three other Turkish Cypriots who were in Lebanon also returned on commercial flights.
Returns and remaining stranded
Mustafa Lakadamyali, undersecretary of the north’s ‘foreign ministry’, told the north’s Tak news agency that a further 36 people have informed Turkish Cypriot authorities that they remain stranded in the Middle East. He said those individuals are in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Lebanon, and that efforts are under way to bring them back to the island as soon as possible.
Flight disruptions and possible alternatives
Lakadamyali said some companies are operating limited flights due to potential risks in the airspace, and that Turkey’s largest three airlines, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, and Ajet, have not yet resumed services to Dubai. He said it is hoped those still in the region will be able to return on Sunday or Monday, and that alternative evacuation routes are being considered if flights between major Middle Eastern cities and Turkey do not resume.
Support and emergency contacts
He said Turkish Cypriot authorities will cover accommodation and transportation costs for Turkish Cypriots stranded in the region due to the conflict. “From the very beginning, our top priority has been the safety of our citizens,” he said. Authorities are operating a 24-hour service line at (+90) 533 851 40 06, and said Turkish Cypriots in the region can contact representative offices in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat, Kuwait, and Manama in an emergency.
What arrangements have you made to stay informed and safe if you are traveling in the Middle East?
