However, as violence between the Syrian government and rebel groups continues to escalate the Indian government has issued a travel advisory that citizens avoid traveling to Syria until further notice. The conflict in the region is an ongoing one, which is why the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has emphasised the significant risks to travelers. L
‘These include Indian nationals who are advised to avoid all travel to Syria,’ the MEA press release said. According to the statement, those already in the country should exercise maximum caution and depart by any available commercial flight as soon as possible.”
To assist stranded citizens, the Indian Embassy in Damascus has shared an emergency helpline: Also via WhatsApp: +963 993385973. The citizens can be updated with the embassy via email at hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in.
MEA sources confirmed that ‘roughly 90 Indian nationals are in Syria, including 14 in related to UN bodies’. ‘We are following very closely what’s going on in Northern Syria, we are in touch with our nationals and we are trying to ensure their safety,’ he said.
Rebel factions are gaining ground in the conflict in Syria. Regime forces in Daraa province have been forced to retreat as Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Monday that Syrian opposition forces had seized over 90 per cent of the province, including Daraa city, its capital.
The civil war in Syria has been going on for five years, and is rooted in widespread discontent in the country with President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. From then on these pro democracy protests rapidly escalated into a multi-sided conflict involving multiple rebel, militant and international players.
The situation remains volatile with renewed violence in areas such as Aleppo, Hama, and Daraa and India is issuing its strongest ever warning to citizens in Syria to prioritise their safety and leave if possible.
