The Tajik government has tasked the airline Somon Air with organizing charter flights to repatriate Tajik citizens from Middle Eastern countries if necessary. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan announced this development.
"Citizens who intend to return home via these flights can contact the diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Tajikistan in the respective countries for additional information and registration," the ministry said in a statement.
The Ministry also provided contact information for Somon Air and Tajikistan’s diplomatic and consular missions:
· Somon Air Information Center
Phones: +992446404049, +992446404050, +992937777459 (WhatsApp), +992901115022 (WhatsApp), +992901032000 (WhatsApp)
· Tajik Embassy in Iran
Mobile: +989363253147
WhatsApp: +992918818889
· Tajik Embassy in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain
Tel: +966115120333
WhatsApp: +966563417592
· Tajik Embassy in the UAE
Tel: +97124417950
WhatsApp: +971581531574
· Tajik Consulate General in Dubai
Tel: +97143945814
WhatsApp: +971585081221
· Tajik Embassy in Kuwait and Oman
Tel: (+965) 25329896
WhatsApp: +96565762307
· Tajik Embassy in Qatar
Tel: +97444123906
WhatsApp: +97439902438
· Tajik Embassy in Turkmenistan
Tel: +99391827271
WhatsApp: +9269738322
· Tajik Embassy in Azerbaijan
Tel: +994513484032
WhatsApp: +994513484032
Following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Israel and US military bases in the region, the security situation in the Middle East has deteriorated. As a result, dozens of airlines have canceled or postponed flights indefinitely, leaving hundreds of passengers, including Tajik citizens, stranded in hotels or airports in the Middle East.
At present, it is unclear how many Tajik citizens remain stranded in the conflict zone and wish to return home. Earlier, the Tajik embassy in Iran reported that around 200 people had applied to return. The embassy also stated that no one had been injured due to the recent events, and they are working on organizing citizens' departure via border crossings in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. On March 1, 13 Tajik citizens left Iran through the Astara border crossing and arrived in Azerbaijan.
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised citizens to "avoid traveling to Middle Eastern countries until the situation stabilizes." They also recommended that those currently in the region follow safety protocols and local authorities' instructions, avoid crowded places and potentially dangerous areas, and always carry personal identification and communication devices.
In light of the ongoing events in the Middle East, Somon Air announced that it would suspend flights on the Dushanbe-Tehran-Dushanbe route until March 31 and cancel flights on the Dushanbe-Dubai-Dushanbe route until March 6.
