Polish foreign ministry in contact with Poles in Socotra
Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said it is in constant contact with Polish tourists who have been stranded on the Yemeni island of Socotra.
Air traffic to and from Socotra, an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa, has been cut off due to an escalation of a conflict between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia backs the Yemeni government, while the United Arab Emirates supports the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a political and military organisation aiming to restore South Yemen as an independent state.
"Socotra is located in a very unstable region that has been embroiled in armed conflict for years," MFA spokesman Maciej Wewior said on X on Sunday. "Currently, the security situation has deteriorated further – airspace has been closed due to the intensification of military operations. The United Arab Emirates airline has suspended flights until January 6, inclusive."
Wewior reiterated the ministry's advice against travelling to Yemen.
"Our mission in Saudi Arabia remains in constant contact with Polish citizens who, despite the foreign ministry's warnings, decided to travel to the island of Socotra. According to our information, the conditions in which our citizens currently find themselves are good," Wewior said.
According to Poland's Angora weekly magazine, a group of 28 Polish tourists, whose trip had been organised by the Torre travel agency, is now in Socotra. However, they are likely not all Poles currently present on the island. (PAP)
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