According to Uzbek authorities, it is expected that all airlines operating flights to the specified countries will participate in the evacuation, including Uzbekistan Airways, Centrum Air, Qanot Sharq, and Fly Khiva. Flights in the opposite direction will be carried out with the aim of bringing back as many Uzbeks as possible, while planes heading to the Middle East will fly empty.
Aripov also instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to negotiate with diplomats from the region's countries to organize evacuation flights and ensure their safety.
According to estimates, more than 1,000 citizens of Uzbekistan are currently in Saudi Arabia for performing Umrah (minor pilgrimage). Additionally, many compatriots are stranded in the UAE due to the suspension of air travel.
It is worth noting that on March 2, information was received about the temporary suspension of Umrah trips organized by the Muslim Administration of Uzbekistan and tour operators, due to the worsening situation in the Middle East. The date for the resumption of flights will be announced later.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Transport to consider alternative transport routes for export-import operations. This is due to Uzbekistan's active use of Iranian seaports, through which up to 60% of cargo from Turkey and Europe passed.
Last year, considering the complex situation in the Middle East, the government explored other routes for cargo transportation, including corridors from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan to Georgia to Europe, Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan to China, and Uzbekistan to Afghanistan to Pakistan.
In light of the conflict in the Middle East, Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan (the position of Turkmenistan remains unknown), issued joint statements. All express concern over the escalation of the conflict and call for peaceful negotiations in accordance with international law.
Kazakhstan, unlike others, has taken additional measures: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed to develop an action plan to prevent destabilization within the country, as a result of which law enforcement agencies have been put on round-the-clock duty.
Military actions between Israel and Iran began on February 28, marking the largest escalation of the conflict in recent years. Israel announced a "preventive strike," and the USA confirmed its involvement, stating that the aim of the operation is to neutralize Iranian nuclear and missile threats. In response, Iran struck Israeli territory and US military bases in the region.
