Uzbekistan Evacuates Over 19,300 Citizens from Middle East

As of 7:00 AM on March 8th, Uzbekistan has successfully repatriated a total of 19,347 of its citizens from abroad. The operation is part of an ongoing effort to bring nationals home amid regional tensions.

On March 7th alone, the return efforts saw significant activity. Nine flights from Saudi Arabia brought back 1,680 citizens, while two flights from the United Arab Emirates repatriated an additional 394 individuals. A further five citizens were returned from Iran.

In a coordinated effort on the same day, Uzbekistan's embassies in Qatar and Saudi Arabia worked alongside the country's Ministry of Transport to evacuate the first group of citizens from Doha. This group consisted of 208 people.

They departed from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh aboard a Centrum Air flight and arrived safely in Tashkent at 5:40 AM on March 8th.

The diplomatic mission in Qatar has already assembled a second group for evacuation. This group of 126 citizens is scheduled to be transported by bus from Doha to Riyadh under embassy escort. Their charter flight from Riyadh to Tashkent is planned for March 8th.

The government has stated that measures for the return of Uzbek citizens are continuing and are being carried out systematically and in stages.