Australia has deployed six crisis response teams to the Middle East as the government expands efforts to assist tens of thousands of Australians in the region amid escalating conflict.
The teams, sent by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, are supporting what officials describe as one of the largest consular operations the country has faced.
Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong said the scale of the challenge reflects the large number of Australians currently living, working or travelling across the Middle East.
“There are currently around 24,000 Australians in the United Arab Emirates and about 115,000 Australians more broadly across the region,” Wong said.
While not all Australians are expected to request government assistance to return home, the minister warned that the situation represents a major logistical challenge for consular officials.
“This is a consular crisis that dwarfs any that Australia has had to deal with in terms of numbers of people,” Wong said.
The crisis teams have been deployed to help coordinate evacuation efforts, assist Australians registering with consular services and provide support on the ground as security conditions continue to evolve.
The move comes as tensions in the Middle East escalate following a series of military exchanges involving Iran and several countries in the region.
Wong said she was “deeply concerned” about the pace at which the conflict is expanding.
According to the minister, Iran has launched strikes against 11 countries, including Turkey, a NATO member.
The rapidly developing security situation has complicated efforts by governments and airlines to maintain safe travel routes out of the region.
Australian authorities continue to urge citizens in affected areas to register with consular services and monitor official travel advice as evacuation efforts continue.
