On March 2, the Secretary of the Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic, Adilet Orozbekov, held an urgent meeting with the heads of law enforcement and security agencies, as well as other relevant departments. This event was prompted by the current situation in the Middle East, as reported by the information policy service of the presidential administration.
During the meeting, important issues regarding the interaction of state bodies were discussed, especially in the context of Kyrgyz citizens who found themselves in conflict zones. Orozbekov emphasized the need for urgent measures to protect their safety and organize their return home. He also instructed to carry out round-the-clock monitoring of the situation in the Middle East until the situation stabilizes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was tasked with determining the current status and number of Kyrgyz citizens in the danger zone, as well as developing a plan for their temporary evacuation and accommodation in safe places.
It was also noted that the operation of hotlines organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign institutions for emergency assistance and consultations for citizens should be ongoing.
Since the onset of conflicts in the Middle East, President Sadyr Japarov, the government, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic have been actively working in an operational mode on special assignments. This was reported by the Kyrgyz ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ulukbek Maripov.
According to him, the diplomatic mission maintains contact with every Kyrgyz citizen, including students and pilgrims who arrived for Umrah. "A special headquarters has been established to work with pilgrims. This involves the Muftiyat, the State Agency for Religious Affairs, and travel companies," the ambassador added.
He also noted that 35 Kyrgyz citizens in Bahrain have sought assistance. They have also been established with round-the-clock communication, and measures are prepared to provide necessary assistance in case of security threats.
As for flights, airports in Saudi Arabia are operating with relative stability, while many neighboring countries have closed their airports. Domestic flights are operating as usual, and local airlines continue international flights, although their number has decreased, Maripov reported.
The situation in Saudi Arabia remains generally stable, with constant interaction with local authorities and monitoring of the situation every hour.
In case of questions or the need for emergency assistance, a direct contact number in Saudi Arabia is available: +966 58 376 99 45.
There are more than a thousand Kyrgyz citizens permanently residing in Saudi Arabia, most of whom are labor migrants and students. This was reported by the consul of Kyrgyzstan in Saudi Arabia, Nursultan Orunbaev, during an online briefing.
According to him, the number of Kyrgyz citizens who came for Umrah exceeds 5,000, and currently, there have been no requests for evacuation.
"Pilgrims are mainly located in Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina. A special headquarters has been established to support them, which works in conjunction with the Muftiyat and the companies that sent them for Umrah," the consul emphasized.
He added that the situation in the country remains stable. The airspace of Saudi Arabia is open; however, some international airlines are temporarily suspending their flights.
Previously, the Muftiyat reported that about 6,000 Kyrgyz citizens are in Mecca performing the minor pilgrimage (Umrah).
The post War in Iran: The Security Council discussed the situation of Kyrgyz citizens in the Middle East first appeared on the K-News website.
