Update Middle East: new flights with Italians departing from the Gulf. Additional staff at Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices

Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani chaired today at the Farnesina a new meeting of the Gulf Task Force with the Italian Embassies in the region to take stock of operations to assist Italian citizens in the areas affected by the crisis.

Following the update provided by diplomatic and consular offices on the needs in the area, it was decided to further strengthen the staff of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oman and the United Arab Emirates: the new units are in addition to the staff that have already been deployed in Oman at Muscat airport and at the UAE border.

In the United Arab Emirates, a total of 1,250 Italian citizens is expected to return today. In particular, in the night departed an Emirates flight to Milan; in the morning a Flydubai flight to Bergamo; in the afternoon an Etihad flight to Milan; in the evening two planes direct to Rome and in the late night a further Flydubai charter.

Qatar facilitated the first land transfer of 114 people from Doha to Riyadh. Work is underway to organise further steps in the coming days.

From Kuwait, 10 people have already reached Saudi Arabia by land.

Also from Bahrain, 14 Italian citizens who have requested it have already been accompanied to the border to Riyadh.

In Saudi Arabia, about 150 people were welcomed at the borders, including particular vulnerable situations with special assistance. Return will continue with scheduled and charter flights.

In Oman the coordination continues to accommodate Italian nationals in transit also from the United Arab Emirates. An additional 160 people are expected to arrive soon and will then continue the journey to Italy.

In Israel there are about 200 Italian citizens currently monitored; consideration is being given to possible accompaniment to the border, including through Egypt.

Reinforcements arrived in the Maldives from Colombo to assist Italian citizens, and life-saving medicines were delivered to them by Embassy staff. Twenty-four Italian nationals will return by ship with subsequent transit from Mauritius thanks to the precious collaboration of Costa Crociere. Tomorrow, 60 fragile people are leaving on a Neos flight. Currently 150 Italian nationals are at the airport, while others are located on the islands.

In Thailand, requests for re-entry are increasing: the Embassy has collected about 500 requests for assistance and elaborated priority lists based on health conditions and vulnerable situations.

Thanks to the "European Civil Protection Mechanism", Italy has made airlines apply flights at special prices for citizens in the areas affected by the crisis.

To date, the number of calls handled in Italy by the Crisis Unit has exceeded 14 thousand calls, confirming the intense assistance activity in progress.