2,377 Serbian citizens evacuated from the Middle East

He stated that the government will continue to make efforts to evacuate all citizens from conflict zones who wish to return home.

Jović told Tanjug that of the total 2,377 people evacuated, 1,488 were airlifted by Fly Dubai from the United Arab Emirates, while the remaining 889 were evacuated through the organization of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the airline Air Serbia.

According to him, since the start of the conflict, most Serbian citizens were located in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Not all people are interested in evacuation; these numbers change depending on the intensity of the hostilities. "We have already evacuated citizens from Kuwait and Bahrain, as well as in the first days of the conflict from Iran and Israel," he added.

When asked what the biggest operational challenge is when a plane lands at an airport in a city near conflict zones, Jović emphasized that the main challenge is logistical organization. He added that a few days ago there was a complex evacuation from Riyadh airport for Serbian citizens who were located across four countries in the Middle East.

According to him, although these are complex procedures even in peacetime, let alone during hostilities, so far the evacuation of people is proceeding safely and successfully.

When asked how Serbia’s diplomatic relations with countries in the region, such as the UAE, help Belgrade secure priority for flight approvals from conflict zones, Jović said that the good diplomatic relations between Serbia and President Aleksandar Vučić and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed significantly contribute to faster and more efficient evacuation of citizens.

He noted that if only 10 flights are possible in one day, one of those flights will be for Belgrade thanks to the strong diplomatic ties Serbia maintains.

Commenting on the fact that Serbia has also evacuated many foreign citizens from the region and the EU, Jović emphasized that these foreign nationals are very satisfied, as seen in their positive reactions when boarding Air Serbia flights or disembarking at Belgrade airport.

These foreign nationals are mostly spouses of Serbian citizens, parents of children with Serbian citizenship, or friends of Serbia, he added. He also noted that Serbia has so far evacuated people from all countries in the region, as well as citizens of Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, India, Qatar, and the Philippines.

Jović urged all Serbian citizens who have decided to remain in the Middle East to stay in contact with the embassies via email, follow and listen to instructions from local authorities, and act in a disciplined way until the wartime danger has passed.