Norway’s foreign ministry set up crisis staffing over the weekend, after determining that thousands of Norwegian citizens are currently caught in Middle East crossfire. They’d been living, working or were on holiday when the US and Israel started bombing Iran on Saturday.
Norway’s foreign ministry is trying to assist Norwegians who are in areas of the Middle East now suddenly under attack after the US and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday morning. PHOTO: Ingeborg Gloppen Johnsen / Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
It didn’t take long for Iran to retaliate, firing back not only at Israel and US military targets but also sending drones and missiles into areas that hadn’t been widely viewed as threatened. That includes popular holiday destinations and large business centers like Dubai and elsewhere in the United Arab Emirates, along with Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called the situation in the Middle East “extremely serious and profoundly disturbing. I am deeply concerned that further escalation can end with a major war in the region.” Støre said the attacks in the Middle East “and the spread of the conflict to Iran’s neighbouring countries … are not in line with the Rule of Law” and can have “serious consequences” for millions of people all over the Middle East and outside the region.
Norway has also, however, opposed the Iranian regime’s “brutal use of violence against its own people,” Støre added, “and we share the concerns over Iran’s nuclear weapons program.” He urged a return to “diplomatic conversations to find a solution to the conflict.”
The foreign ministry said, meanwhile, that as of March 1, more than 2,000 Norwegians were registered as traveling in at least one of the following countries: Iran, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria and Iraq. Since it’s voluntary to register, the ministry itself believes the actual numbers of its citizens in the area are much higher. In addition can come many others working or living in the Middle East.
After explosions began hitting Dubai, Qatar and Oman on Saturday, the ministry known as “UD” (Utenriksdepartementet) officially set up a crisis staff to deal with what they call “the conflict between Israel, the USA and Iran.” The ministry reported on Sunday that several Norwegians were “experiencing dramatic attacks and had to seek shelter.” State broadcaster NRK reported how one family on holiday in Dubai spent the night in the basement garage of their hotel.
Warnings were going out to avoid hotels after some were targeted by Iranian missiles in Bahrain. All Norwegians abroad were being urged to register their whereabouts with the ministry as well as with their airlines, since airports were forced to shut down and air space was closed as well. Prospects of being able to travel out of the area were dim, with most airlines grounding all flights at least until Wednesday.
The ministry reported getting calls or messages from around 600 of Norwegians reported to be in the area, “and that was rising.” The ministry was also publishing “relevant information for Norwegian citizens in the Middle East” on its website (external link, in Norwegian), and updating it regularly.
The ministry warned that the security situation in the various countries around the Middle East “can vary and change quickly.” Several were already experiencing regular missile- and drone attacks, the ministry added, “and it can be dangerous to move around outdoors.” Norwegians were urged to heed local officials’ advice, seek shelter when told to do so and “stay in touch with family and friends who can be worried.”
The largest concentration of Norwegians seemed to be in Dubai, where many Norwegian companies also have offices. The Norwegian Embassy in Abu Dhabi was maintaining close contact with companies that in turn could pass on information to employees.
Many were gathering at the Norwegian Seamans’ Church (Norsk Sjømannskirken) in Dubai on Sunday. Church officials were also available by telephone “for Norwegian citizens needing someone to talk to.”
There were no plans to offer Norwegian citizens assisted travel home. All were urged to contact their airlines, travel agencies or insurance companies for information on when flights may start up again. “Each individual must also evaluate the security of any prospective travel over land,” the ministry stated.
NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund