Czech Foreign Ministry urges citizens to stay put in Middle East

The Czech Foreign Ministry has advised citizens in Middle Eastern countries to follow instructions from local security authorities and avoid travelling within the region. Speaking after a crisis team meeting convened by Foreign Minister Petr Macinka (Motorists), spokesman Adam Čörgö said it is safer for people to remain where they are. According to the Drozd voluntary registration system, several thousand Czechs are currently in the region. The ministry’s emergency hotline has received around 700 calls since Saturday evening. Officials said capacity is being increased and operators are calling back those who were initially unable to get through.