As attacks continue across the Middle East, the UK government has chartered a repatriation flight from Oman.
The plane is set to leave this evening (4 March) and is available for British nationals, their partners and children under 18 with a valid travel document.
UK nationals have therefore been told to make an ‘urgent’ move as the government offers the escape amid the conflict.
The war between Iran and the USA is now in its fifth day with Israel’s air force saying it has struck ‘dozens of command centres of the Iranian terror regime’ overnight.
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Since the attacks began, at least 1,097 civilians have been killed in Iran, according to US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), including 181 children under the age of 10.
Drones and missiles have also hit the likes of Dubai, Lebanon and Cyprus, and some 130,000 Britons have registered their presence in the Middle East as the conflict continues.
The most vulnerable people will be prioritised first for the charter flight arranged by the government, scheduled to leave Muscat International Airport at 11pm local time (7pm GMT).
The Foreign Office has said it will contact British nationals in Oman to secure them a seat on the repatriation flight. The department also asked that people do not travel to the airport unless they’ve been officially called.
So, the government has asked that any nationals who have previously registered their presence in the UAE but are now in Oman to ‘urgently’ fill out a form if they want a seat on the flight.
Dependents who are not British nationals will need to have a valid visa or permission to enter or remain granted for more than three months.
The Foreign Office said it would ‘continue to work with airlines to find more routes for people to return home’.
While this is the first flight chartered by the government, airlines are also boosting flights from the Middle East. Emirates has seven flights from Dubai to the UK today, with Virgin Atlantic operating one to London Heathrow and Etihad has two Abu Dhabi departures.
In a statement yesterday, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The safety and security of British citizens is our top priority, and we know that hundreds of thousands of people have been affected by the conflict and escalation in the Middle East and the Gulf. This includes holiday makers, business travellers and visitors who can’t return home because of airspace closures or strikes.
“That’s why we have the Foreign Office crisis centre that is open 24/7 and why we’ve asked people to sign up to register your presence, so that we can make sure there is up to date information and to follow travel advice across the region.
“But most importantly, we are working with airlines, with the travel industry, with governments across the region to make sure that there will be safe ways for people to return home.”
Jess Battison