BiH issues emergency contacts and considers evacuation routes amid Middle East escalation

The ministry said it remains in constant contact with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s diplomatic network and international partners to ensure a timely response and the safety of its citizens in affected areas.

In its official statement, the ministry highlighted a key point: at present, no country has organized evacuations of its citizens from the Gulf region.

However, authorities are preparing for all possible scenarios. The MFA is working closely with the Operations Center of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ministry of Security, which coordinates with the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, in order to ensure a rapid and effective response if evacuations become necessary.

The ministry and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s embassies are already actively considering alternative evacuation routes in case airports in Gulf countries are completely closed to air traffic.

Today’s Crisis Response Team meeting was attended via video link by key Bosnian diplomats from across the region, including Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ambassador to Iran, Nijaz Cardaklija, and Ambassador to Israel, Dusko Kovacevic, as well as representatives from embassies in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Doha, Riyadh, and Amman.

The primary focus of the discussions was the security situation and the status of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s citizens, with particular attention given to those who have already requested assistance.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an urgent appeal to all Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens in crisis-affected regions who require assistance to immediately contact the ministry’s emergency hotlines, available 24 hours a day:

+387 33 281 234

+387 61 168 100 (also available via WhatsApp and Viber)

To facilitate faster communication, dedicated WhatsApp groups have also been established at Bosnia and Herzegovina embassies, including:

Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Abu Dhabi: +971 264 44 164

Special WhatsApp groups have also been created at Bosnia and Herzegovina’s embassies in Qatar and Kuwait.

Citizens are advised to regularly monitor official communication channels of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s embassies, which will provide updates and any potential evacuation plans as the situation develops.