THE foreign ministry yesterday began putting measures in place to ascertain how many Jamaicans are in the region and urged citizens to generally avoid travelling to the area, as the likelihood of a US-led war against Iraq increases.

However, a ministry source said there were no figures currently available for the number of Jamaican nationals in the region.

“Jamaicans residing in Iraq or the Gulf States are being advised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade to monitor closely, developments with regard to the situation in Iraq. Jamaicans are further advised to make the necessary arrangements to ensure their personal safety and generally to avoid travel to the region,” the ministry said in a statement yesterday.

Jamaicans in the region were also asked to immediately register with the ministry’s Protocol and Consular Department in Kingston or one of the country’s missions at the United Nations, in European countries, or the Middle Eastern countries of Israel, Lebanon or Jordan.

The ministry also asked members of the public who have contact information for Jamaicans in the affected region, to get in touch with its Protocol and Consular Department at 926-4220-8, extensions 2103 and 2107. The department can also be reached via fax at 929-2260 or by e-mailing them at protocolmfaja@cwjamaica.com.