Travel warning by UAE; flights to Brussels hit

Dubai - All UAE citizens in Belgium are safe in the wake of the deadly terror attacks, the ministry added.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development has warned UAE nationals not to travel to Belgium, as the European nation has raised its state of emergency preparedness to the highest level.
All UAE citizens in Belgium are safe in the wake of the deadly terror attacks, the ministry added.
Additionally, the ministry advised all Emiratis who are currently in Brussels to avoid public transportation and use caution in public places until order is restored, and to take heed of alerts issued by the Belgian government and the UAE's mission in the country.
In a statement, Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, expressed the UAE's condemnation of the attacks on civilians, and reiterated the UAE's rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism which targets all races and religious groups indiscriminately.
Dr Gargash also emphasised the UAE's solidarity with the Belgian government and people out of its firm position which rejects "all forms and manifestations of terrorism regardless of motivation and justification, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever they are committed".
He also called on the international community to work together to eradicate terrorism, and expressed the UAE's condolences and wishes for a speedy recovery for the wounded.
Flight diversions
Among more than 200 flights cancelled or diverted away from Brussels on Tuesday were UAE carriers Emirates and Etihad.
Etihad Airways' flight EY058 - which was scheduled to leave Brussels for Abu Dhabi at 10:10am (CET) on Tuesday - was cancelled because of the evacuation of the departure terminal.
Etihad said they are closely monitoring the situation and will provide regular updates on the status of its flights on March 23, including flight EY055, scheduled to depart Abu Dhabi for Brussels at 0930 hrs (UAE time).
The airline is offering passengers who have purchased tickets on and before March 22, 2016, for travel to/from/via Brussels until March 29, with rebooking options.
An Emirates flight - EK183 - was diverted to the German city of Dusseldorf because of the closure of Brussels airport, and the airline said they were "looking at alternative arrangements in Dusseldorf to get our passengers to their final destinations".
The return flight to Dubai, EK184, was cancelled.
"We are monitoring the situation in Brussels closely. The safety of our passengers, crew and staff is always our top priority and will not be compromised," an Emirates spokesperson told Khaleej Times.
Emirates' Wednesday flights to and from Brussels have been cancelled.
Indian, Pakistani, Filipino nationals safe
Naghmana Hashmi, Pakistan's ambassador in Brussels, said all the over 15,000 Pakistani nationals in Belgium are safe.
Meanwhile, in a post on Twitter, Sushma Swaraj, India's Minister of External Affairs, said there were no Indian casualties.
"I am in touch with Mr Manjeev Puri, Indian Ambassador in Brussels. He has informed me that so far there is no report of any Indian casualty," the tweet said. "However, an Indian lady crew member of Jet Airways is injured. She has been rushed to the hospital."
Jet Airways later noted that a second staff member was also wounded, but did not reveal her nationality.
Arlene Andes, a Filipino journalist based in Belgium, posted on her Facebook that "after getting information from authorities, all Filipino nationals in Belgium are safe. We have kababayans (compatriots) working in one of the airport's restaurant at the departure area and they are all safe."
Philippine Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Victoria Bataclan, for her part, advised Filipinos in Belgium "to stay vigilant and exercise caution in line with the current Alert Level 4 that has been declared by the Belgian authorities".
"Avoid visiting public and crowded places like malls and recreation centres," she added. "Stay where you are if you do not necessarily need to travel to and from Belgium, and spread caution around." Bataclan told Khaleej Times that there are around 10,000 Filipinos living and working in Belgium.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com