Foreign Office issues new travel advice for 31 countries – full list | UK | News
The updated travel advice include 31 countries. (Image: Getty)
An updated travel advice including 31 countries has been issued as the war in the Middle East continues.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has announced the update today (March 19). This is one of many issued by the FCDO for British citizens planning to travel to, or already in, affected countries. The latest was issued earlier this afternoon and covers 31 countries.
“Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights. Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East,” the advice read.
This comes as Iran, three weeks since the war began, intensified its attacks on oil and natural gas facilities around the Gulf.
Read more: Haifa refinery in Israel struck in Iran missile attack as Middle East on brink
Read more: Iran’s deadly missile blunder misses Israel and kills 3 Palestinian women
Today (March 19), a refinery in Haifa, Israel, has been struck in an Iranian attack as Tehran continues to target oil infrastructure in the Middle East. the Haifa Oil Refinery, Israel’s largest oil processing facility.
The refinery is operated by the Bazan Group, has an annual capacity of 9.8 million tons of crude oil, and supply up to 60% of Israel’s transport fuel. The attack on the rifenery is part of Iran’s retaliation after the recent US-Israeli strikes on the country’s military and nuclear sites.
The attack is likely to affect the current cost of oil, which has already been impacted by the tension and conflict in the Middle East. Iran has recently intensified its attacks on oil and gas facilities around the Gulf and on Israel.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, also reported attacks on energy sites. Tehran’s targeting of energy production further stressed global supply already under pressure because of Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil is transported. Several airlines have cancelled all flights to and from those countries.
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Here is the full list of countries included in the latest travel advice
- Singapore
- Vietnam
- Phillipinnes
- Tuvalu
- Laos
- Thailand
- Uzbekistan
- New Zealand
- Bangladesh
- Australia
- Indonesia
- Brunei
- Japan
- Georgia
- Tajikistan
- Nepal
- Maldives
- Fiji
- Malaysia
- India
- Papa New Guinea
- Cambodia
- South Korea
- Samoa
- Solomon
- Tonga
- Nauru
- Vanutu
- Marshall Islands
- Kiribati
- Sri Lanka
British Airways will not operate any flights until the summer, it announced on Tuesday, as the UAE city continued to be the target of Iranian retaliatory strikes.
A BA spokesperson said: “Due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability, and to provide more clarity to our customers, we’ve extended the temporary reduction in our flying schedule in the region.”
Emirates is operating flights to Dubai, but many are near empty, it has been reported. KLM has announced the suspension of all flights to Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam until May 17. It said: “We continue to evaluate the situation and remain in close contact with the relevant authorities.”
