American stranded in Doha amid Middle East conflict says she's 'in shock' at lack of communication from US government
Americans stranded in the crosshairs of the Middle East conflict say they are seeking answers and assistance from the U.S. government to get home safely and soon.
While the State Department says 24,000 Americans have reportedly arrived back on U.S. soil since Saturday, many are still stuck in the region and say they have been shocked by how difficult the return experience has been.
Shirley Alejandra Bejarano says she has been stuck in Doha, Qatar, for five days, with no set plans to get home safely to the U.S. She told ABC News on Friday the situation has "been surreal."
"I still cant believe that I'm actually here. It was just supposed to be a layover, and I am still here almost a week now," Bejarano said. "I wake up to the interception of missiles and drones every morning. It's been absolutely just horrifying."
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According to State Department officials, at least two government charter flights have flown directly from the Middle East to the U.S. so far, and the agency said it is working to contact stranded Americans to offer charter flights or ground transportation.
Bejarano said that Qatar Airways has shared updates stating passengers will only be able to get out on a commercial flight "if the airspace is open."
In an update posted to X on Friday, Qatar Airways said "flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace" and will resume "once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace by the relevant authorities."
The carrier said it will issue another update on March 7.
In the meantime, Bejarano said "there hasn't been any support from the U.S. government to help."
"There's no evacuation plan that has been sent to me or any Americans I know that are here," she said. "I've done everything -- called the U.S. embassy and all of the numbers that the Department of State have publicized, filled out the STEP form, the risk intake."
Bejarano said she had been able to get in touch with some of her local council members back home in New York, as well as other elected officials, who she said "have been pushing my information and other constituents' to the Department of State, letting them know that we're here."
"But of course, they can only do so much," she added.
Bejarano said her experience stands in contrast with those of other nations, including Italians, Spanish, Dutch, and Germans, whose embassies "have been here at the hotel talking to their citizens" and who have gotten buses out of the region and "been able to get home."
"I don't understand why the U.S. government, the one that I actually trusted the most, would not arrange anything for me to get back to the U.S. I am in shock, absolutely in shock," she said.
The State Department has not provided any estimates of how many Americans in the region are still waiting for help getting home. A senior State Department official said Friday that approximately 30% to 40% of the Americans the department has contacted so far have declined assistance, adding that the department was not aware of anyone declining help because they could not safely get to an airport.
ABC News has reached out to the State Department for additional comment.
Bejarano said that earlier today, she was notified by Qatar Airlines that the carrier is seeking to find a way to get all of the stranded passengers to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Bejarano, who said she missed her grandfather's funeral while stranded, said her main priority right now is "getting out of here safely."
"I just want to be with my family," she said.
