On Thursday morning, March 5, 82 citizens of the Republic of Moldova arrived safely in Chisinau on a FlyOne flight operating the Dubai–Chisinau route, amid ongoing security developments in the Middle East.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova stated that the flight was one of the few air connections currently available from the region, as disruptions in regional airspace continue. Another flight is scheduled in the coming period, in line with approvals granted by the authorities of the United Arab Emirates. The ministry said it continues to monitor the situation and maintain contact with authorities and air operators to facilitate the return of Moldovan citizens.
Authorities reported that no victims or injured Moldovan citizens have been registered in the monitored states. Diplomatic missions remain in permanent contact with local authorities and provide consular support in the region.
In Israel, the security situation remains complex. Moldovan citizens have been urged to comply with security measures imposed by Israeli authorities and to remain in missile shelters until official announcements lift the alerts. The airport remains closed to commercial flights and will gradually resume operations only for flights dedicated to the return of Israeli citizens.
Through the embassies of Moldova and Romania in Tel Aviv, two Moldovan citizens managed to leave Israel and arrived safely in Bucharest. At present, no evacuation requests have been registered from Moldovan citizens in Israel.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates continue to manage the consequences of recent missile and drone attacks. Public services operate normally, and authorities maintain constant communication with foreign diplomatic missions. The Embassy of Moldova in Abu Dhabi has received 154 emergency hotline calls, processed 114 email requests and registered 110 evacuation requests. UAE authorities are providing assistance to passengers affected by flight cancellations, including temporary accommodation.
The Embassy of Moldova in Doha has registered 22 individual evacuation requests, while 32 Moldovan citizens have requested information about the security situation and departure options. Twenty cases remain pending and two are under examination. Doha Airport remains closed, and authorities are expected to decide on Friday morning, March 6, whether to reopen the airspace.
Qatar Airways announced it will operate certain flights from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Muscat, Oman. Air and maritime space remain largely restricted, and Qatari authorities do not currently recommend evacuation.
In Lebanon, two repatriation requests have been reported. Lebanese airspace was intermittently open, allowing possible transit options depending on security developments.
The Republic of Azerbaijan remains an important regional transit point for the evacuation of foreign citizens from Iran. The Azerbaijan–Iran land border remains closed to regular passenger traffic, and emergency exits are possible only through prior institutional coordination. Moldovan citizens in Iran have been urged to contact the Embassy of Moldova in Baku to coordinate transit or evacuation options. Currently, no evacuation requests have been registered from Moldovan citizens in Iran.
The ministry also received notifications from Moldovan citizens in the Philippines, the Maldives, Zanzibar and Sri Lanka regarding flight cancellations, rescheduling and transit difficulties. Authorities advised citizens to stay in contact with travel agencies and airlines to identify available solutions and to report difficulties to the ministry’s dedicated email address for assessment and consular assistance.
The Crisis Cell of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to monitor developments closely and provide updates as the situation evolves.