Podgorica, (MINA) - Five Montenegrin sailors currently in the war-affected area of the Middle East have requested evacuation assistance from the Government of Montenegro, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs announced.

Director of the Directorate for Maritime and Inland Navigation, Goran Idrizovic, told Radio Montenegro that the ministry is monitoring the developments in the Middle East and working to ensure safe return of the seafarers to Montenegro.

He said that 44 seafarers have been registered through the emergency registration platform in the areas affected by the war, while five applied for evacuation, RTCG Portal reports.

According to Idrizovic, in close and intensive cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry is closely following the developments and preparing evacuation flights for seafarers who requested to return home.