Frustration for Shropshire couple stranded in Dubai as they try to get home to the UK
A Shropshire woman stranded in Dubai has spoken of her frustration at a lack of information as she tries to get home to the UK.
Lex Butler and her husband Edward Morley, of Alberbury, near Shrewsbury, are amongst more than 70,000 Brits stranded in Dubai as the country has been dragged into one of the most serious conflicts of recent years.
Lex, 43, and her husband have been attempting to secure flights home from Dubai, after it was targeted by Iran in the wake of an American and Israeli attack on Iran on Saturday morning.
Earlier this week they told how the peace of a perfect holiday was shattered by the terrifying sound of exploding missiles while they sat on the beach.
Lex said that in the days since there had been frustration that the messages of support from the government were not being reflected with up-to-date communication - or a plan on getting people home.
She said: "The support is very much shouted from the rafters on TV and socials from the embassy and our government, but the fact is nothing is being communicated to us Brits here.
"We get e-mails from the embassy (as we registered ourselves being here) which just give the same information time and time again - shelter in place, remain safe away from windows. Rinse, repeat emails.
"Our government are on TV saying we are a priority, yet no communication."
Lex said they had not been able to secure flights home, with the added frustration of seeing two separate flights cancelled.
She said that she had spent £13,000 on two seats on an Emirates plane on Tuesday in "desperation" to get home - but the flight had now been cancelled leaving her to try and get the money back.
Lex said there was disappointment at the government's efforts to get people home.
She said: "They mention one flight from Oman is being chartered for Brits by them, but there has been no comms on how to get a seat on it.
"Surely, one plane for 76,000 stranded Brits is not enough of a plan.
"They also have no way of advising us how to get to Oman safely.
"They have said look on government website for travel advice on other routes and means to get out. I looked on there under Dubai - no advice or alternative routes."
Speaking earlier today the Prime Minister said more flights are planned to bring people back to the UK.
He said two further Government-chartered flights will take off from Oman “in the coming days”.
British Airways announced it will operate two more flights between the capital Muscat and London Heathrow, on Friday and Saturday.
The first Government rescue flight and British Airways commercial flight from Muscat depart on Wednesday night.
Sir Keir told MPs that more than 1,000 British nationals arrived back in the UK on commercial flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday.
Eight more UK flights are scheduled to leave the UAE on Wednesday, he said.
There is not expected to be a widespread evacuation of the 138,000 British nationals who have registered their presence in the Middle East.
Some commercial flights are operating from Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE but the vast majority are cancelled because of airspace restrictions caused by the conflict between Iran and the US and its allies.
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