Bangkok: The evacuation center is preparing to evacuate more Thai citizens from Iran in two additional rounds. The Emergency Operations Center is preparing to evacuate more Thai citizens from Iran in two rounds on March 17 and March 25. Thai citizens are urged to promptly provide information.
According to Thai News Agency, the Center for Monitoring and Managing the Conflict in the Middle East (CMCMR) announced the progress regarding assistance to Thai citizens. Mr. Panidol Patchimsawat, Acting Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to report on two matters.
The first issue is the situation in the Middle East, which overall continues to escalate with exchanges of airstrikes among several countries, particularly Iran, Israel, and Iraq. Meanwhile, Iran continues to attack countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), especially ports, airports, and energy infrastructure. In addition, the United States and Israel continue to attack military infrastructure across Iran, including key Iranian crude oil export sites, and there are reports of attacks near protest areas in Tehran as well.
Due to the ongoing uncertainty, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges Thai citizens to consider leaving high-risk areas as soon as possible. Please continue to follow news updates and advice from the Royal Thai Embassy and Consulates General in the affected areas, and register to provide your address and contact information to the Embassy and Consulates General.
The second point concerns the progress in assisting Thai citizens. This morning, 20 Thai crew members from the cruise ship "Mayuree Naree" returned to Thailand. They were welcomed at Suvarnabhumi Airport by representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labour. All crew members remain in good spirits.
Mr. Panidol stated that the rescue operation was well-coordinated between the Royal Thai Embassy in Muscat, Oman, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and other relevant agencies. All crew members had to travel from Casablanca, near the Strait of Hormuz, to Muscat, a journey of over 10 hours, before airlifting back to Thailand.
Regarding the urgent search and rescue of the remaining three crew members, yesterday Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkaew, the Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs, telephoned the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs to request Iranian support in assisting the three Thai crew members still stranded on the ship. He also took the opportunity to discuss allowing the Thai commercial vessel to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, Thailand reiterated its stance in calling on all parties involved to return to the negotiation and diplomatic process to resolve the situation peacefully as quickly as possible.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assures the public that both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence, including the Royal Thai Navy and the Royal Thai Embassy in Muscat, will continue to coordinate with all agencies to monitor the progress of the search operation and expedite the rescue of the Thai crew members to the best of their ability.
Regarding assistance for Thai citizens in the Middle East, the Royal Thai Embassy in Tehran, Iran, has established a temporary office in Van, Turkey, and is continuously issuing updates on the situation. Most recently, guidelines and preparedness for the evacuation of Thai citizens wishing to leave the area have been announced, with two additional evacuation rounds scheduled for March 17th and March 25th. Those wishing to travel are urged to register with the Embassy as soon as possible.
However, the Embassy may arrange additional evacuation rounds as needed and appropriate to the situation. Furthermore, all Embassies and Consulates continue to provide care, facilitate, coordinate travel, and provide essential supplies to Thai citizens wishing to travel to areas where flights are still permitted. They are also assisting in coordinating with countries that still have closed airspace to obtain permission for land travel to neighboring countries or third countries, ensuring the safe passage of Thai citizens.
Since the conflict began in the Middle East, Thai authorities have assisted in the evacuation of 952 Thai citizens. The Thai government reiterates its commitment to assisting Thai citizens in the Middle East affected by the fighting to safely evacuate dangerous areas. The most challenging and difficult task has been overcome: the evacuation of Thai citizens from the most dangerous areas of Iran. All those who wished to return have been successfully evacuated. For other neighboring areas, the government continues to provide full assistance, considering various factors such as flight availability and airspace openness. Overall, the operation has been successful, with proper support systems in place and close coordination between Thai embassies and consulates in each area. Many have clearly defined guidelines for the most appropriate departure routes, meticulously planned, and are prepared to handle any unforeseen circumstances.