From the British Embassy - Kuwait
Dear Wardens,
I would like to draw your attention to a significant change in the Foreign
& Commonwealth Office’s travel advice for Kuwait, which issued
this morning. It has also been put on the Foreign & Commonwealth
Office website. The key points are as follows:
“There is the risk of an attack from Iraq in the event of hostilities.
This might involve chemical and biological weapons.
There have been recent attacks in Kuwait by terrorists.
The threat to British individuals and organisations from terrorism
is now high. It will rise further in the event of hostilities with Iraq.
Terrorist attacks in the region could involve the use of chemical and
biological weapons or materials.
We therefore advise against travel to Kuwait. If you are already in
Kuwait, you should leave urgently while commercial flights remain available.
Dependants of staff in the Embassy in Kuwait have left. We are in the
process of reducing our staffing to a core. Once we do so, our ability
to offer consular services will be very restricted”.
Please draw this “Phase 2” advice to the immediate attention
of British nationals on your list. If asked, you should confirm that
it is for individuals to make their own travel arrangements. I attach,
however, a list of airlines still offering flights to London and a note
on how to book seats on extra BA and chartered flights which are being
arranged to carry those who now decide to leave in accordance with this
advice.
Please also underline that the Consul and Vice Consul will leave and
the Consular Section will close at the end of the day on Tuesday, 18
March. Thereafter, only the most limited consular service will be available
and solely for the most critical cases.
The Visa Section at the Embassy in Kuwait will also close at the end
of Tuesday, 18 March. Residents of Kuwait will, however, be able to
obtain visas for the UK from the British Embassy in Dubai with effect
from Saturday, 22 March. The telephone number of the Embassy in Dubai
is 00 971 4 397 1070 and their office hours are Saturday to Wednesday,
07.30 – 14.30 (local time). Further details are available on the
Embassy’s website, www.britishembassy-kuwait.org.John Francis
HM Consul
British Embassy
Kuwait
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