Help for Singaporeans Staying or Travelling in Affected Areas amid Conflict Escalation in Middle East
Ministry of Foreign AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns assistance measures for Singaporeans in the Middle East during escalating conflicts, as raised by Ms Joan Pereira and Mr Alex Yam regarding consular support and evacuation plans. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan stated that the government previously facilitated the repatriation of 618 individuals via four flights and 13 overland bus journeys when commercial options were unavailable. Over 2,000 eRegistered Singaporeans currently remain in the region, with overseas Missions providing safety updates and guidance. As commercial flights have since resumed, there are no immediate plans for additional repatriation flights. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to urge Singaporeans to defer all travel to the region in accordance with its valid travel advisory.
Transcript
133 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs in view of the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, whether the Ministry can provide an update of the measures to assist Singaporeans there, including consular outreach, personal safety guidance and potential evacuation assistance.
134 Mr Alex Yam asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs in light of the escalating conflict in the Middle East (a) how many Singaporeans are currently registered as residing in or travelling within affected countries in the region; (b) what contingency plans are in place for a possible mass evacuation should the situation worsen; and (c) how is the Ministry supporting Singaporeans who have chosen to remain there.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: When the conflict in the Middle East deteriorated and commercial flights were halted in March 2026, the Singapore Government mounted four repatriation flights from Muscat, Riyadh and Jeddah to bring stranded Singaporeans home. Our overseas Missions organised 13 overland bus journeys to ferry Singaporeans in the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait to the repatriation flights. In total, 618 Singaporeans, Permanent Residents and their dependants were repatriated. The spare seats on the flights were offered to 84 foreign nationals from Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
More than 2,000 Singaporeans who eRegistered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) remain in the Middle East currently. Our overseas Missions remain in close contact with them and provide updates on the local situation. With the resumption of commercial flights, there are no current plans to mount additional repatriation flights.
MFA's Travel Advisory for the Middle East remains valid. We urge Singaporeans to defer all travel to the region.