The final group of Uzbek citizens being evacuated from Qatar departed on March 13–14, according to the Dunyo Information Agency.
Under the planned route, 96 Uzbek nationals traveled by bus from Doha to Dubai, from where they are scheduled to fly to Tashkent. Staff from Uzbekistan’s embassy accompanied the buses carrying the citizens to the border.
Those evacuated expressed gratitude to the Uzbek authorities, diplomatic missions abroad and the Vatandoshlar Public Foundation for providing practical assistance and ensuring the safe organization of the evacuation process.
According to the embassy, 548 Uzbek citizens who had expressed a desire to leave Qatar have been returned home so far in cooperation with the public foundation. The evacuation flights were organized through Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Most of the evacuees were tourists, students and citizens temporarily working abroad.
The evacuation followed disruptions to air travel after armed clashes involving Iran began on February 28, prompting Qatar to temporarily close its airspace. As a result, operations at Hamad International Airport were suspended and nearly 2,000 flights were canceled.
It was reported previously that diplomatic officials in Doha were preparing the return of Uzbek citizens still in Qatar, including 71 nationals aboard the Celestine Cruises ship, while embassy staff continued compiling evacuation lists. Over 5,000 Uzbek citizens were reported to have already been evacuated from the region by March 4.
