A group of Portuguese nationals stranded in Qatar – due to the conflict in the Middle – have told Lusa news agency that authorities have fallen short in helping them get home.
The three, who arrived in Qatar the day before the U.S./ Israeli attack on Iran, say the Portuguese embassy in Doha has failed to give them any “viable solutions”.
According to a statement from the Portuguese embassy, ground transport to Riyadh (the capital of Saudi Arabia, several hundred miles from Qatar) is proposed, made available “especially to Portuguese nationals stranded in Qatar, i.e. those who were there on holiday or in transit at the time of the closure of the airspace”.
The embassy stresses in the same communication that the transport “only goes as far as Riyadh”, and that citizens must make a reservation on a commercial flight “with the possibility of changing the date” before travelling by bus.
“Taking into account the instructions from the Qatari authorities to remain sheltered at home and avoid going out on the streets, the Embassy can organise and provide ground transport to Riyadh, but cannot guarantee safety during the journey or at any point during the trip,” the statement continues.
“The decision to participate in this transport is therefore strictly personal and the sole responsibility of each citizen, who must weigh up the risks associated with travelling in the region at this time, including possible changes related to Saudi Arabian airspace. Participation requires the prior signing of an individual liability agreement,” the statement concludes.
José Camilo, one of the three Portuguese currently stranded in Qatar, stressed that since the beginning of the conflict and the closure of airspace, the group has been staying in a hotel at their own expense and has been in contact with Portuguese diplomats to find a solution.
Yesterday evening, the embassy sent its proposal to a WhatsApp group of 56 people, which José Camilo considers “completely impractical”.
“The Portuguese government has a real responsibility, now and in the future, because it has led us to remain passive. If we are in a bad situation, our families are even more concerned because of the Portuguese government’s stance,” he added, questioning how the ministry of foreign affairs “does not have the capacity to handle 56 repatriations”.
The group – on a tourist trip which stopped in Qatar before a scheduled return to Lisbon – considers the embassy’s proposal unreasonable because it only arranges ground transport to Riyadh at a time when there is no guarantee of departure from Saudi Arabia (and little safety on the ground).
“At this stage, there is a likelihood that things will get worse. Qatar still has defence capabilities, but it is clear that these capabilities are not infinite,” Camilo ventures.
José Camilo also said that he responded to the embassy’s proposal by expressing his concerns – adding that other Portuguese citizens have asked for further explanations in the same WhatsApp group. But as of 11 pm (Portuguese time) yesterday they had received no response.
What the group wants is a “less risky solution” to return to Portugal.
Lusa meantime has reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which “assures” that a solution is “currently being dealt with and will not be made public to ensure the safety of Portuguese citizens”.
Lusa says it also sought clarification on the situation of nationals stranded elsewhere in the Middle East – but was ‘unable to obtain a response’.
Source material: LUSA
