Fear and uncertainty are gripping thousands of South Africans caught in escalating violence in the Middle East, as government officials explore ways to assist citizens seeking to leave the region.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) says more than 6,400 South Africans in the Middle East have now registered on its Travel Smart system, a platform used by the government to track citizens abroad during emergencies.

The department has urged South Africans currently in the region for non-essential travel to make urgent arrangements to leave while limited commercial flights are still operating.

Authorities warned that the security situation remains volatile and that attacks in the region are expected to continue in the coming days.

South Africans are also strongly discouraged from travelling to the region unless it is absolutely necessary.

For some citizens, however, leaving the conflict zone has proven far more difficult than expected.

Zinhle Mbatha is among those stranded after her travel plans were abruptly disrupted. Mbatha had been travelling to Ireland and landed in Doha for a short stopover before her connecting flight.

But the situation quickly turned chaotic.

She explained that passengers waiting for flights were suddenly instructed to remain in the terminal after airport authorities announced that operations would be suspended.

Moments later, alarm sirens sounded across the airport, triggering panic among travellers who feared the situation could escalate further.

Mbatha says passengers were then told they would need to find accommodation on their own as the airport prepared to shut down for the night.

The unexpected announcement left her shaken.

She explained that the experience has been overwhelming, especially because it was her first international trip to visit family abroad.

Mbatha said she has been relying on her sisters back home to track her movements through location sharing on her phone as she tries to navigate the uncertainty.

She added that she has attempted to contact South African officials for guidance but has struggled to receive assistance.

For Mbatha, simply receiving clear information from authorities would help ease the anxiety of not knowing what will happen next.

Her situation mirrors that of many other South Africans scattered across the region.

South African musician Money Mike says he is currently stuck in Beirut, where explosions and missile attacks have become a terrifying reality.

The artist described living under constant fear as violence intensifies around him.

He said he has repeatedly tried to contact the South African embassy for help but has not yet managed to secure a way out of the country.

With few options available, the musician is now making an urgent appeal for assistance to return home safely.

Government has acknowledged the growing number of South Africans affected by the crisis.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Indaba in Cape Town, President Cyril Ramaphosa said authorities are working to identify citizens trapped in the conflict zone.

He said the government remains committed to ensuring that South Africans who want to leave the region are able to return home.

Ramaphosa indicated that evacuation plans would depend largely on when the airspace in affected areas becomes safe for travel.

DIRCO has meanwhile urged citizens experiencing difficulties to contact South African diplomatic missions or the department’s emergency consular services.

Officials say registration on the Travel Smart system is critical as it helps authorities determine where citizens are located and what support they may need.

As tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, many South Africans in the region remain anxious about how and when they will be able to return home.