Father Alexandru Cristian Truşcan, parish priest of the Romanian community in Dubai, has issued a message of reassurance and caution amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, saying the community is closely monitoring developments.
“We are following the evolution of the situation responsibly,” the priest told Basilica.ro.
Amid recent geopolitical tensions in the region that have raised concern among Romanians living abroad, Fr. Truşcan said the situation remains stable, though precautionary measures have been taken to protect the population.
“Although there have been isolated incidents in the region in recent days, they have not directly affected the life of our community, and the authorities are managing the situation responsibly,” he said.
He added that the parish’s liturgical schedule continues as usual: “The liturgical programme of our parish continues according to the normal order. We remain in constant contact with members of the community.”
“So far, there have been no requests addressed to the parish for special interventions or emergency assistance,” the priest noted.
Spiritual and community support
Referring to Romanians temporarily present in the United Arab Emirates, Fr. Truşcan acknowledged that some have encountered difficulties returning to Romania.
“In such situations, the parish reaffirms its role as a source of spiritual and community support, offering guidance and pastoral assistance to those affected,” he said.
The priest also remains available for dialogue, confession and spiritual guidance for anyone experiencing fear, anxiety or discouragement, offering words of comfort and encouragement.
Special prayers for Romanians living abroad, for their families and for all those affected by current conflicts have been added to the parish’s liturgical services.
“We pray for peace among nations and for the end of wars, asking God to bring calm, wisdom and stability to the region and to the whole world,” he said.
Maintaining contact with authorities
The Romanian parish in Dubai is encouraging all Romanians facing difficulties to remain in contact with the competent authorities and representatives of the Romanian community.
Romanian citizens in the United Arab Emirates are advised to notify authorities of their presence by sending their contact details to the Embassy of Romania in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General of Romania in Dubai, or by registering through the Econsulat platform.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have partially reopened the country’s airspace, although only a limited number of flights are currently permitted from the main airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Romanians seeking repatriation are urged to remain in contact with consular authorities for updates on the resumption of flights to Romania.
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