HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
Developments in the air crisis that the Middle East has witnessed in recent days have revealed clear confusion in the Algerian authorities' management of the file of their citizens stranded abroad, at a time when the United Arab Emirates has taken humanitarian and organizational measures to alleviate the pressure on residents and visitors affected by the closure of airspace.
The Emirati authorities announced a package of exceptional measures for the benefit of foreign residents and visitors who were unable to leave the country due to the disruption of air traffic, where a number of categories were exempted from fines related to residency violations starting from February 28, last year. The decision includes holders of departure permits who have exceeded the specified period to leave the country, in addition to people whose residencies have been canceled and who were unable to travel, as well as visitors whose tourist visas have expired during the crisis period. This decision reflects, according to observers, the organizational and humanitarian approach that the Emirates follows in dealing with international crises and their effects on residents on its lands, as the authorities were keen to avoid burdening foreigners with the consequences of an exceptional circumstance beyond their will, especially in light of the cancellation and postponement of a large number of flights through the country's airports. In contrast, the Algerian position seemed confused, after media sources revealed the sending of a plane belonging to Air Algérie to Dubai with the aim of evacuating some stranded Algerian citizens, but the operation was not completed, as the plane returned without passengers after the boarding process faltered, which raised questions about the diplomatic and logistical coordination that accompanied the operation. Observers believe that this failure reflects the fragility of consular management in emergency situations, especially in light of the regional tensions witnessed by the region after the military escalation between the United States of America, Israel and Iran, an escalation that caused widespread disruption of air traffic and temporary closure of some airspace in the Middle East. In an attempt to contain the criticisms, the Algerian consulate in Dubai announced the follow-up of the conditions of Algerian citizens residing in the emirate and the northern Emirates, calling on members of the community to adhere to the instructions of the local authorities and to communicate continuously with the consular interests to follow up on developments. The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also revealed the installation of a central crisis cell to follow up on the conditions of the community in the countries affected by the events, under the supervision of the Secretary of State in charge of the National Community Abroad, Soufiane Chaib, with the aim of coordinating with diplomatic and consular missions abroad. However, according to observers, these measures remain late compared to the speed of action of some countries that have put in place clear mechanisms to accompany their citizens in crises, especially in light of the repeated criticisms facing Algerian diplomacy regarding the weakness of its consular services and the failure of its interventions in emergency situations. In light of the continuing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the fate of many stranded travelers remains linked to the return of stability to air traffic, while the management of consular crises remains a real test of the extent to which countries are able to protect their citizens abroad and ensure their safety in exceptional circumstances.
