The Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation in the Middle East held a press briefing at Government House on 11 March 2026 at 11.00 hr to follow up on the situation and on assistance for Thai nationals. 

At the press briefing, Mr. Santi Piyatat, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, announced measures to protect consumer rights amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, while Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat, Acting Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, briefed on the progress in assisting Thai nationals in the affected areas.

Minister Santi Piyatat revealed that the ongoing fighting in the Middle East has affected global economic stability and energy prices, which may in turn impact transportation costs, logistics, and supply chains. The Government, therefore, places great importance on protecting the rights of consumers in Thailand. The Prime Minister, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Consumer Protection Board, has instructed the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) to implement proactive measures to prevent unfair practices against consumers during the current situation.

The OCPB convened a meeting on 5 March 2026 and resolved to establish an integrated operational plan involving relevant agencies, along with six key measures to protect consumers nationwide. The plan integrates the work of provincial governors, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Pattaya City, and consumer protection agencies in the respective areas to ensure that measures are implemented in a unified direction across the country.

The key measures include expanding consumer complaint channels through the hotline 1166, with the OCPB increasing the number of urgent complaint lines by 10 additional lines. There will also be stricter supervision of business operators and advertisements that may mislead the public, regulation of the sale of essential consumer goods, and oversight to ensure fairness in gold trading. In addition, campaigns will be conducted to raise consumer awareness of their rights when purchasing goods and services through both conventional and online channels.

Retailers are also requested to provide multiple payment options, including cash payments, in order to facilitate convenience for the public in case of potential disruptions to infrastructure or digital systems. Furthermore, consumers are warned to remain vigilant against scammers who may take advantage of the crisis to fraudulently sell goods and services. Consumers are advised to purchase goods from online platforms registered with the OCPB to ensure safer transactions. A list of registered online vendors can be accessed on the OCPB website at www.ocpb.go.th.

Regarding the situation in the Middle East, Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat stated that the overall situation remains volatile and uncertain, particularly in Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Lebanon, where reports of attacks continue to emerge. However, in some countries not directly involved in the conflict, such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, there have been signs of a reduction in violence, allowing limited special flights and commercial flights to resume operations.

As of now, there have been no reports of Thai nationals being injured or killed as a result of the situation. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Thai citizens to avoid travel to the Middle East for the time being and urges those who remain in high-risk areas to consider leaving the area as soon as possible. They are also requested to register their information with the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General responsible for the area so that contact and assistance can be provided promptly if necessary.

Regarding the progress in assisting Thai nationals, a total of 381 Thai citizens have now been assisted and have returned safely to Thailand. A second group of 68 Thai nationals from Iran has already arrived at the temporary operations center in Van, Türkiye, and is scheduled to travel back to Thailand on 12 and 13 March. Meanwhile, another 14 Thai nationals are currently evacuating from Iraq to the same operations center before continuing their journey back to Thailand.

In addition, Etihad Airways has opened one flight per day from the United Arab Emirates to Bangkok and Phuket until 12 March, while Qatar Airways has arranged special flights to help clear stranded passengers from Doha to Bangkok. Thai embassies and consulates-general in the region continue to coordinate closely to facilitate and assist Thai nationals wishing to return to Thailand.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also warned that scammers are impersonating embassy officials and asking victims to transfer money for airfare back to Thailand. The Ministry reiterates that Royal Thai Embassies do not charge such fees and urges the public to contact only the official channels of Thai embassies.

In closing, Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat emphasized that Thailand remains committed to the principle of peace and calls on all parties to pursue diplomatic approaches and peaceful negotiations in order to prevent the conflict from escalating further. The Thai government will continue to place the highest priority on the safety of Thai nationals in the affected areas and will continue evacuation efforts from dangerous areas until the situation improves.