dailynewsnblog
* This will be the final daily update on the situation in the Middle East. Future updates will be issued as required.
The Government of Canada takes the safety and security of Canadians and own personnel abroad very seriously and continues to monitor the situation in the Middle East.
On March 12, in response to the Government of Lebanon’s request for humanitarian support, the Government of Canada announced more than $37.7 million in funding to provide critical assistance in Lebanon, including food, medical and health services, shelter and clean water.
Canada continues to monitor the situation in Lebanon and remains in close contact with humanitarian partners to assess and respond to evolving needs.
Registration of Canadians Abroad and Consular Assistance
Due to the ongoing security situation in the region, some Canadian missions have limited in-person services, however all offices in the region continue to provide essential services to Canadians, including consular support.
At any time, Canadians abroad in need of emergency consular assistance can contact Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre by:
- Telephone: +1 613 996 8885 (collect calls accepted where available)
- Email: me-mo.sos@international.gc.ca
- SMS: +1 613 686 3658
- WhatsApp: +1 613 909 8881
- Signal: +1-613-909-8087
We are aware of delays affecting delivery of passports in certain parts of the region due to airspace closures. The gradual resumption of air travel will address this issue.
As of March 12, more than 110,700 Canadians are registered in our voluntary Registration of Canadians Abroad system. Registration numbers do not accurately represent the actual number of Canadians in a country or their desire to leave, as it includes only those who opt to register and may include individuals who have already departed without updating their profiles.
Since February 28, nearly 8,500 Canadians and permanent residents have returned to Canada through direct and indirect routes from the Middle East.
The Government of Canada has facilitated the departure of more than 1,000 Canadians and Permanent Residents from the region to a safe third country.
Global Affairs Canada’s direct assistance to Canadians, permanent residents, and family members has included:
- visa facilitation for border crossings;
- support in obtaining travel documents and passports;
- reception at border crossings, including help securing accommodations and onward travel and providing access to Wi-Fi so they can reassure their loved ones;
- assisted departures in multiple countries, including buses to safe third countries or to locations where commercial flights are available;
- block booking seats on commercial flights when airspace allowed; and
- chartering an aircraft from the UAE to Istanbul.
During international emergencies, Canada works closely with partner countries to expedite the safe departure of citizens from the region and increase opportunities for them to leave.
We have been working closely with Australia, New Zealand and the UK, providing mutual consular support, including assisting and representing each other’s nationals at border crossings, and are grateful for their support.
Canada has helped nationals of Egypt, Ireland, Jordan, Kuwait, and the U.S. by offering them unclaimed seats on assisted departures.
Canada is grateful to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Turkmenistan for facilitating border crossings out of Iran, and to Japan and Singapore for offering seats to Canadians on departing flights and buses from the region.
On March 12, the 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre received just over 400 calls, the lowest number of calls since the onset of this crisis. At the height of activity last week, we received nearly 1,400 calls per day. We are now seeing enquiries shift from requests for departure options to questions related to travel documents, travel advice and updates for Canadians registered abroad. Most enquiries in the past day have come from individuals in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Lebanon.
At this time, we are not aware of any Canadians who have been injured or killed because of the hostilities.
Travel advice to Canadians
Canadians in the Middle East should:
To get up to date information on the latest advice, Canadians can also follow Global Affairs Canada on X (formerly Twitter) @TravelGoC and @CanadaFP or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/travelGoC or subscribe to the daily travel updates email.
Our advice includes information about safety and security conditions abroad to enable travelers to make their own informed decisions regarding destinations. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the individual.
