Thousands of Kenyans living and working in the Middle East could be affected as escalating tensions in the region have prompted the United States and Canada to issue fresh travel warnings, while France and the United Kingdom reassessed their operations in affected areas.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Canada advised its citizens to avoid all travel to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen, while recommending against non-essential travel to Israel, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The U.S. Department of State issued a worldwide caution, warning that tensions in the Middle East could escalate unexpectedly and disrupt travel.

“Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” read a statement obtained by this publication.

📌 What You Need to Know

It advised Americans already in the region to remain vigilant, prepare for flight cancellations and airspace closures, and monitor airline operations before travelling.

The advisory further urged travellers outside the Middle East to reconsider trips to or through the region as airlines continue adjusting schedules and suspending some routes.

Additionally, France evacuated staff and closed its embassy in Tehran, Iran, over security concerns linked to rising tensions, while Air France halted flights to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Lebanon.

In a similar move, the United Kingdom announced that it has temporarily withdrawn personnel from the embassy in Tehran, citing the deteriorating security situation.

The warnings come as Kenya’s State Department for Diaspora Affairs is yet to issue a fresh advisory to Kenyans in the region following escalation of the conflict between the U.S. and Iran.

Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu previously disclosed that about 500,000 Kenyans were living across the Middle East, including around 100 in Iran and approximately 1,000 in Israel.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke