The Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation in the Middle East held a press briefing at Government House on 12 March 2026 at 11.00 hr to monitor the situation and citizen care measures.

Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat, Acting Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed the progress of the situation and guidelines for assisting Thais in the Middle East. Dr. Varoth Chotpitayasunondh, M.D., Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Health, announced comprehensive physical and mental healthcare measures for Thai workers returning home and Thais in risk areas.

Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat announced the latest progress regarding the Thai-flagged cargo ship "Mayuree Naree," which encountered an incident in the Strait of Hormuz on 11 March 2026, at about 11:00 a.m. (Thailand time). The ship, carrying a total of 23 Thai crew members, sustained damage to its stern after departing from Khalifa Port, United Arab Emirates. 
The Royal Thai Embassy in Muscat coordinated with the Royal Navy of Oman and has successfully rescued 20 Thai crew members, bringing them safely ashore to the city of Khasab. An urgent search operation is currently underway for the remaining three crew members. The Marine Department confirms that there are currently no other Thai-flagged cargo ships stranded in the area. 

Thailand, therefore, urges all parties to exercise the utmost restraint, immediately de-escalate tensions, and return to negotiations to prevent the situation from escalating and undermining regional and global stability, as well as condemning the violence against commercial vessels and expresses grave concern over the matter. 

Diplomatically, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued Statement No. 2, reiterating profound concern over the escalating crisis resulting from the attacks by Israel and the United States, and Iran's retaliation, which impacts the safety of civilians and Thai nationals. This morning (12 March), the Iranian Ambassador to Thailand was invited for a discussion on the facts, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to hold a telephone conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman this evening to follow up on the crew search. In addition, Thailand has initiated a special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting on 13 March 2026, to reiterate ASEAN's centrality in jointly addressing this crisis.

Regarding the progress of assistance for Thai nationals, a cumulative total of 381 people have been assisted in leaving the region. Most recently, the first group of 34 people from the second batch arrived in Thailand on 12 March, and the remaining group will arrive on 13 March. Meanwhile, Thai embassies in several countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Israel, continue to facilitate special flights and return journeys.

The Thai government remains firmly committed to assisting Thai nationals in the Middle East affected by the fighting to safely evacuate from danger zones by air, as the safety of Thai citizens in the Middle East is currently the highest priority.

Dr. Varoth Chotpitayasunondh stated that following the unrest in the Middle East, Mr. Pattana Promphat, Minister of Public Health, has emphasized that all affiliated agencies must maintain maximum readiness to care for the health of over 100,000 Thai workers in at-risk countries, focusing on comprehensive physical and mental healthcare through three main measures. For the initial phase of care, the ministry has established health support channels for those still residing in risk areas (Digital Health Support), enabling immediate online self-care. 

For physical health, individuals can receive telemedicine consultations via the "Mor Prom Super App," which covers everything from doctor appointments to digital health record storage, and LINE OA, including receiving health advice from medical personnel anywhere, anytime. The "Koo Jai Sukkapap Raeng Ngan Thai Nai Tang Prathet" (@koojainrh) is for symptom assessment and receiving advice from medical personnel. 

For mental health, the Department of Mental Health has opened a special channel Line ID: @1323middle.east specifically to reduce stress and anxiety for Thais in the Middle East. Subsequently, upon returning to Thailand, the ministry has prepared 3-dimensional screening measures at the point of entry (POE Phase). Medical teams stationed at the airport will conduct thorough screenings: 1. The communicable disease dimension by the Department of Disease Control to screen for fever and cough symptoms and isolate suspected cases. 2. The physical health dimension by the Department of Medical Services to screen for underlying diseases and injuries for referral to medical facilities, and 3. The mental health dimension by the MCATT team to immediately assess and heal severe stress or panic conditions.

Furthermore, there are continuous monitoring and care measures (Post-Arrival Phase) extending to their hometowns. Provincial Public Health Offices and local hospitals will send personnel for home visits or telephone follow-ups on symptoms, as well as facilitating rapid access to local treatment for patients with chronic diseases. 

The Ministry of Public Health advises returnees to notify officials immediately, if they experience any abnormal symptoms. Those still in risk areas are requested to follow news from reliable sources and contact for assistance when needed. It is confirmed that there is readiness in terms of personnel and various medical supplies to safely care for the physical and mental well-being of all Thai citizens, so they can overcome this crisis strongly in both body and mind. The Ministry of Public Health reassures that it will stand alongside the people until the situation passes.