British nationals in Iraq are urged to contact the Foreign & Commonwealth Office with details of their whereabouts in readiness for an evacuation.
Thousands of British expats are working to help rebuild the country after the infrastructure was left in tatters after the Iraq War with Saddam Hussein’s forces.
However, the FCO fears many will be trapped as a vicious civil war breaks out between militant Sunni Muslims backed by Syrian fighters and the government’s Shi’te Muslim government and army.
Sunnis dominate the Muslim world, but Shi’ites are the majority in Iraq.
The rebel forces have already captured Mosul, Iraq’s second city, and have reached Tikrit, about two hours from the capital Baghdad.
British expats in Iraq are urged to contact the FCO by:
- Texting Iraq2014 to +447860010026.
- Completing a form online
- Calling +44 207 008 1500
- Emailing your name, date of birth, passport number and location to mailto:[email protected]
“British expats should leave the districts of Ramadi and Fallujah in Anbar province, Ninewah and Salah-ad-Din provinces,” said an FCO spokesman.
The FCO also suggests all but essential travel to the rest of Iraq, except the Kurdistan region, should be halted.
“British expats intending to travel to places which the FCO advise against all but essential travel should employ a professional security company and take all necessary security precautions,” said the spokesman.
Ethiopia border hot spots
British travellers in Ethiopia have been warned to stay out of disputed border hot spots where security forces and terrorists have fought bloody battles.
The FCO says the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea is closed and sporadic fighting is also taking place along the borders with Kenya and Somalia.
“We believe terrorist group Al Shabaab is planning and has the capability to attack across the borders into Ethiopia,” said an FCO spokesman. “The targets are likely to be Western interests or foreign nationals as kidnap victims in return for a ransom.”
Expat safety under threat
The Tajikistan government has banned foreigners from the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast and announced that security forces cannot guarantee their safety in the region.
As a result, the FCO suggests all but essential travel should cease.
The ban follows a shooting near the town of Khorog on June 10, 2014, and several other violent incidents in May.
“If you are in the area, consider leaving and certainly stay away from large gatherings,” said an FCO spokesman. “Border posts are closed and may remain so for a while.”
