We need more updates, say British nationals stuck in Middle East

British citizens currently stuck in the Middle East have told the BBC there has been a lack of information about available routes to travel home as Iran's retaliatory strikes across the region continue.

Teigan McFadden's flight home from Dubai on Tuesday was cancelled and the 21-year-old says she is running out of her heart medication, while another family told the BBC they were stranded in Oman after their flight from Malaysia was diverted.

Air travel in the Middle East has been severely disrupted since Saturday, with thousands of flights cancelled.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs on Tuesday that the "safety and security" of British nationals was a "top priority".

She told the Commons that a government charter flight will fly from Muscat in Oman in the coming days, prioritising vulnerable nationals.

The government is also working with airlines on increasing capacity out of Muscat for British nationals, she said, adding that Britons "must wait to be contacted by the Foreign Office regarding these options."

Flights have been cancelled across the region since Saturday when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with attacks across the region.

McFadden, from Belfast, told the BBC she registered with the Foreign Office but was yet to receive any information.

She said: "I signed up for the government email and the only email I've had is 'thank you for signing up for this'.

"I feel like I'm in the grey area. My airline hasn't contacted me much, I had to contact them to find out my flight was cancelled."

McFadden has remained inside her Dubai hotel since the weekend and described the situation as "petrifying".

She added that she was running out of medication for a heart condition known as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, with the stress making symptoms worse and causing her to lose consciousness.

Layla Wildon, 44, her husband Andrew, and two children - Ophelia, 10, and Elysia, eight – were travelling back to the UK from Malaysia via Doha on Saturday when they were diverted to Muscat in Oman.

Layla told the BBC they had heard nothing from the airlines and, while the family has been put in a hotel, they do not have access to their luggage.

"Some form of contact to give an indication of options would make a huge difference," she said, while acknowledging it is a difficult time for airport staff.

The couple are trying to work remotely and are worried about finding a kennel for their dog back in Canterbury, Kent. The family said they were also unable to get food or drink in Oman until sunset as it is Ramadan.

Darren Jones, chief secretary to the prime minister, told BBC Breakfast that people should register their presence with the Foreign Office for the latest government advice and updates.

"There will be consular support available to people including on the ground and we've sent officials there to help with extra capacity in the region," he added.

But Layla Wilson told the BBC they had been unable to register their presence and sign up for government updates as the service is not currently available for those in Oman.

Jamie Welch, from north London, is stranded in Doha after travelling back from a two-week holiday in Australia.

His initial connecting flight from Doha to Heathrow had to be rearranged due to technical issues on the plane and his later flight was grounded due to the unfolding crisis.

"At the moment we are just told to stay in our hotels, we are provided with three very basic buffet meals each day and water," Welch told the BBC.

He had initially spent two days in Doha airport before being moved to a conference centre, and then to a hotel.

Welch, who has not had access to his luggage since Friday, said on Monday night that he had received "one generic email from the embassy" and no calls from the airline to explain what will happen next.

What is the government advice?

Cooper told the BBC on Monday that there were an estimated 300,000 British citizens in Gulf countries.

On Tuesday, the foreign secretary said 130,000 British nationals had signed up for the Register Your Presence programme which is available in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

While many Brits remain stranded, some flights to the UK have been operating out of Dubai.

Some Emirates flights have departed for London Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.

Flights out of Qatar remain suspended due to the closure of airspace in the region.

British Airways cancelled its timetabled flights to London Heathrow from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha and Dubai on Monday.

The airline told passengers that safety was its "top priority". Passengers with bookings on certain routes up to 15 March are being allowed to amend the date to fly on or before 29 March.

Additional reporting by Kris Bramwell and Bernadette McCague