Registration Urged for British and Irish Citizens in Middle East
British and Irish nationals residing in the Middle East are being encouraged to register with official schemes as tensions escalate in the region. This advisory follows renewed Iranian attacks across the Middle East, which are in response to ongoing US and Israeli military actions.
The deputy first minister for Northern Ireland participated virtually in a briefing alongside the first ministers of Scotland and Wales on Saturday. The meeting included senior UK government security advisers who discussed the evolving situation in the region.
"It's estimated there are around 100,000 UK citizens living and working and visiting in the wider region as well,"said Emma Little-Pengelly, who dialled into the meeting securely from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's headquarters on Saturday.
"There's a lot of families, a lot of ones here at home that will be very worried about them."
"We want to do everything that we can to make sure our citizens in the Middle East region are safe.
"At the moment the advice very clearly is to shelter, to stay inside and to make sure that you're keeping up to date with that advice from the UK government."
Recent Strikes and Impact in the Region
Strikes have been reported in several locations including Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Doha in Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The attacks have resulted in one fatality and 11 injuries at airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Zach Cairns, an optician from Portadown in County Armagh who has been living in Dubai for six years, shared his experience with NI.
"I heard some bangs before anything official came through."
"There were some messages came through from the local government, just advising that there was drone attacks incoming and where my house is, sort of at the back of Dubai, we did see some interceptor missiles go up.
"The general consensus in Dubai at the minute is almost, be careful, but pretty much go on as usual."
He mentioned that he was out with friends for food on Sunday.
"The general feeling is it's not going to last very long and that you are overall quite safe here with the defences and stuff that's in the UAE."
He also noted the difference in concern between residents and tourists.
"It would be worse if you were a tourist.
"The airports are closed so that would be a bit more uncertain and the other thing is I mean with Dubai most of the food and things are imported so if this was sort of something sustained where the flights were down then it would be more of a concern to residents."
Irish Government Advises Shelter in Place
Helen McEntee, Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, has urged Irish citizens in the region to adopt a "shelter in place" approach amid the ongoing attacks.
"A large number of Irish citizens, in particular in the UAE, are already on our citizen registration platform, with several hundred registering yesterday.
"I would encourage anyone in the region either resident or transiting to register.
"I am also aware of suggestions of consideration of land routes to neighbouring countries, such as Oman.
"However, I strongly urge citizens not to pursue anything other than a shelter in place strategy for now."
McEntee emphasized that this guidance aligns with the common approach across European Union member states.
"This is a unique consular situation, with a large number of citizens located in UAE in particular and with local and regional airports shut and, in some cases, under attack."
