Europe Asia News

Canadian Foreign Minister Anand announced that more than 103,000 Canadians in Middle Eastern and Gulf countries have registered through the Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) program.

Anand stated that those who have registered will be contacted by email through the ROCA service regarding the ongoing security situation and called on Canadians in the region to prepare a departure plan that does not rely solely on government support.

Noting that Global Affairs Canada is currently not offering assisted evacuation flights, Anand said: “Commercial flights departing from Lebanon are still available for those wishing to leave. The Government of Canada has reserved a limited number of seats on commercial flights departing from Beirut.”

Anand also emphasized that Israel’s Ministry of Tourism is organizing bus services to the Menachem Begin border crossing between Eilat and Taba in Egypt and said, “We are communicating all available options directly to Canadians through the Registration of Canadians Abroad program and will continue to provide updates as new developments occur.”

Anand also noted that Canada’s emergency response teams have been deployed in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Jordan, Türkiye and Turkmenistan and said that citizens in need can contact the 24-hour Emergency Watch and Response Centre.