OTTAWA, Canada – Mélanie Joly, minister of foreign affairs, today issued the following statement urging Canadians to leave Ethiopia immediately:
“Canada is very concerned by the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Ethiopia.
“Our top priority is the safety and security of Canadians, both at home and abroad. Since November 18, we have been asking Canadians to avoid all travel to Ethiopia. We are now asking Canadians who are already there to leave immediately if it is safe to do so. Should the situation continue to worsen, the availability of commercial flights could soon become limited.
“Ultimately, Canadians abroad are responsible for their own safety and should make the best decisions for themselves and their families, based on their individual situations.
“Our embassy in Addis Ababa remains open, and our consular officials stand ready to help Canadians in need of emergency assistance. However, our ability to provide consular assistance in Ethiopia is limited, including in Addis Ababa. Canadians should make their own travel arrangements now and should not count on evacuation flights.”
Canadians in need of assistance can contact the Embassy of Canada to Ethiopia at 251 11 317 0000 or by email at consul.addis@international.gc.ca.
Canadians can also contact Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre 24/7 by phone at 1 613 996 8885, by email at sos@international.gc.ca or by SMS at 1-613-686-3658.
For the latest information on the situation, Canadians should continue to check our Travel Advice and Advisories for Ethiopia and sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service.
