Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee has called on the estimated 20,000 Irish citizens in Gulf states to shelter in place and avoid trying to leave via land routes amid ongoing instability.
Multiple Gulf states have come under attack as Iran vowed to carry out its “most intense operation” ever in retaliation for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The 86-year-old was killed in a US-Israeli attack yesterday morning, raising concerns about an escalation of tensions across the Middle East.
“If you’re talking about those who are resident as well as those transiting through, you are talking about up to 20,000 [Irish people in the region],” Ms McEntee told RTÉ’s This Week.
“If you compare us to other countries of our size we have a very large number of people … we have many young people teaching, working there, and so we have a much larger number than perhaps other countries of our size would have.”
She said that she was not aware of any Irish citizens who have been injured or are caught up in what is happening but that she appreciates how difficult it is for those here in Ireland who have loved ones in the region.
The minister said that a large number of Irish citizens, in particular in the United Arab Emirates, have already registered with the department’s citizen registration platform, and she encouraged others in the region to do the same.
“We’re asking people to register so that we have a complete picture of who is there.
“We have a general sense of the numbers who are working there and are resident, however, we know there are many people on holidays who wouldn’t ordinarily register, we know there are many people who would be transiting through, so this will allow us to have the information and contact details of those.”
She said the department has set up a consular line that is being manned 24/7 and to check its social media platforms for the most up to date advice.
She strongly urged Irish citizens not to consider land routes to neighbouring countries, such as Oman.
“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,” she said.
“As of now, there are no evacuation routes recommended for Gulf countries and so the advice is to shelter in place.”
Ms McEntee later said that she had spoken to the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and expressed Ireland’s condolences to the victims of attacks on the UAE over the last 36 hours.
“The UAE is an important and valued partner and many Irish people call the UAE home,” she said.
“In this uncertain time, the safety of Irish citizens in the UAE and wider region is my utmost priority and I deeply appreciate the efforts of the UAE Government to keep all residents safe and informed.”
Irish in Gulf describe experience amid ongoing bombardment
Michaela Piare, a science and maths teacher from Kildare who is working in an international school in Doha, Qatar, told RTÉ’s This Week that the skies above where she lives have been “very active” in the past weeks.
“[The bombs] were coming in waves of twos or fours or eights.
“Towards the evenings, there was about 20 all at the same time, a bit like fireworks in the sky.
“We get an alert in on our phones – sort of like a government directive, sending out a signal to shelter and stay safe.”
Ms Piare said she spent yesterday with friends watched the missiles from her balcony.
“It [the attacks] just seems to be direct attacks on the US-base.
“We are very fortunate that we haven’t had any casualties in the form of civilians.”
Irish residents of Doha watch as missiles are intercepted
Ms Piare, whose school week runs from Sunday to Thursday, taught online today as a safety precaution.
The city is quiet, she said, and many restaurants and shops are closed except for supermarkets.
“We couldn’t be traveling whenever there’s missiles going off.
“It started again this morning around 7 o’clock. very loud in comparison to what we had yesterday.
“I say we’ve had another 40 or 50 of them throughout the day today.
“It doesn’t look like it’s going to let up today. Last year it was just one night and it was just response from a US attack on Iran.
“It was one evening and that was it. was done.
“This seems to be a little bit more long term.”
Motorists drive past a plume of smoke rising in Doha
Ms Piare added that there is a large Irish community in Doha and they have been keeping in touch with eachother throughout the weekend.
Kuwait has a much smaller Irish population that Qatar.
Daragh Meredith, an English teacher from Laois who is working in an American school in Kuwait, said that he felt the shake of bombs in his apartment in the city
“We could hear a couple of explosions,” he said.
Mr Meredith has a one-month-old daughter.
His mother-in-law who came to visit them cannot get a flight home due to the closure of Kuwaiti airspace.
His own parents have not yet met their new granddaughter.
“We’re just staying calm, following all procedures,” he said adding that he had already been contacted by the Irish embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Mr Meredith said he feels safe as the missiles are not targeting civilian areas, although he is working from home.
Among those stranded is Patrick Lawson, a British citizen who has lived in Ireland for more than twenty-five years
The father of three who lives in Duagh in Co Kerry, is currently stuck in Doha on his way home from visiting his sister in Australia.
He said he has had no response from Qatar Airways or the Department of Foreign Affairs in his search for help.
“My family is trying to get a hold of Qatar, and we’ve been left on hold for hours at an end, and then the phone just hangs up.
“I did manage yesterday to change my flight for tonight, but that’s been cancelled, and I’m getting nothing from Qatar Airways at all at this stage so my plan is tomorrow is to try and get to the airport again and see if I can speak to someone in person.
“I’ve registered with both the Irish and the UK governments. The only thing that I’ve got back is emails back from the UK government to say that I registered with them,” he said.
Mr Lawson added: “I’ve nothing back from the Irish government. If they just got back and said, look, we don’t know anything, that’s better than being ignored, which is the way I feel right now.
“There’s three other Irish people here all in the same boat.”
Patrick Lawson is currently stuck in Doha on his way home from visiting his sister in Australia
Editor of Travel Extra Eoghan Corry said if the closure of airports in the Middle East goes on for much longer it could have implications for the travel plans of tens of thousands of people in particular those travelling between Ireland and Australia.
He said disruption would have “huge implications for connectivity, for Ireland and for connectivity from Europe”.
“While February is low season in Europe, it’s high season in Australia.
“So unless the airports find some way of reopening quickly, we’re going to be start running into problems where we have tens of thousands of people displaced and waiting for the flight home,” said Mr Corry.
He added: “There are other options for people trying to use the Middle East as a hub. For example, Qatar would have an arrangement with British Airways. So there are options to get people from Dublin to Heathrow and perhaps take those direct flights down to Perth.
“But the options are limited enough because Istanbul, which is the other major hub going in that direction, doesn’t have a direct route to Australia.
“In the meantime, it’s really important to get those three major international airports open, because it’s February, but the numbers increase historically through March, April and May,
“If there isn’t a quick resolution to getting the airports open, whatever about the rest of the conflict, the problem is just grow and grow and grow.”
Meanwhile, the Irish Travel Agents Association advised people who have booked a holiday to any destination in the Middle East to “immediately check with both your travel agent and your travel insurance”.
The association’s president Tom Randles added: “When the DFA advise to ‘Avoid Essential Travel’ to a particular country, UAE in this instance, it usually means that the travel insurance policy will not cover travel to that country.”
13 flights more between Dublin and Middle East cancelled
Dublin Airport said disruption to flights in and out of the Middle East is continuing today and could continue into next week as at least 13 flights between Ireland and the region have been cancelled today due to the conflict in the region.
It follows the cancellation of nine flights between Dublin and airports in the Middle East yesterday.
Emirates has cancelled its full schedule of flights between Dubai and Dublin Airport today (three inbound/three outbound), as well as its early morning inbound and outbound flights tomorrow.
Qatar has cancelled all flights to/from Doha today (Two inbound and two outbound).
Etihad has cancelled three of its four Abu Dhabi flights today (two inbound/one outbound). A decision will be made later on its last outbound flight of the day (EY048).
Graeme McQueen, Head of Media Relations at daa, the operator of Dublin Airport:
“It’s another day of disruption for passengers due to fly between Ireland and the Middle East, and some cancellations have already been confirmed for tomorrow.
“Further disruption over the coming days is possible. As always, passengers are advised to contact their airline directly for the latest updates on the status of their flight.”
Anyone intending to travel to or through the Middle East is advised to check with their airlines and if there, register with the Department of Foreign Affairs.