Despite the guarantee given by Ministry of Foreign Affairsmany Portuguese remain without a solution to return to Portugal.
O Portuguese has already received dozens of repatriation requests from countries that are being affectedof hair . O (MNE) guaranteed that it will help all Portuguese who want to return to the country, but many still do not have a solution.
On vacation in Dubai with his wife, who is 6 months pregnant, and their 6-year-old daughter, Diogo Mendes Silva should return to Portugal this Mondaybut even during the weekend he realized that this wasn’t going to happen.
“The phones rang in tune and it was an alarm signal to seek shelter. We didn’t really know what to do, we went to the lobby as were almost all the hotel guests, and when we were waiting in the lobby, this situation was quite scary, because in front of us there had been debris that hit the Burj Al Arab.”
O Famous hotel was hit by an Iranian attack. Diogo and his family were taken to a shelter inside the hotel where they are staying. THE situation is now calmerbut with the airspace closed. They still don’t know when they can return to Portugal.
“Time passes and the situation is very unpredictable and we don’t have an exit date yet, we don’t have that perspective,” he said.
He says he has been in permanent contact with the embassy, mas I expected more action from the authorities.
“The British government is considering a series of actions for land, water and sea to remove people from here. We haven’t heard anything from the European Union,” he explained.
Government with several repatriation requests
O Portuguese government has already received dozens of repatriation requestsbring it. Around 40, from Israel alone. Two have already been removed from Iran by car. They would have been the only ones of the 13 Portuguese residents in the country to want to leave.
Emídio Souza, Secretary of State for Communities, assured that all requests for help”are being responded to.”
SIC spoke to a group of Portuguese, who areetido no dubai since Saturday, and that he still guarantees that he has not received any response from the Portuguese embassy in the United Arab Emirates, despite several contacts.
They should have left on a cruise that would only return to Dubai on the 7th.of those on the ship, there are still no indications about the return to Portugal, and worried because they only have medication until next Saturday.
Mafalda Pires is with her family in Abu Dhabi, who also hasbeen the target of attacks. For now says it’s too early to leave.
“Right now it’s about being close to places where we can take shelterand there is a hail of missiles or an Iranian attack, but no more than that. I feel pretty safe honestly. I sleep well. I have full confidence in the UAE’s defense,” he highlighted.
The Government advises people who may be retained in aeroportsbecause they were traveling for work or pleasure and never left, which register at the consular emergency offices.
