Messages from Lebanon: Playing a waiting game

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Pat Gaffney shares more of her on-line conversations with a friend trapped in Lebanon.

Trying to give strength to my friend in Lebanon, I reminded her that in 2006 she spoke about her situation as a Palestinian refugee at a peace conference Pax Christi helped organise. I told her to think of the friends she made then and of the fun we all had together. She was studying in London at that time and in the 2006 war was stranded for a while during a visit to her parents in Saida. I also asked her if they were able to even think of getting out - her children have British citizenship and if so, what they might do.

My friend answered:

Sure, I do I remember the wonderful weekend in Derby and I hope that some day my two children will attend such events.

Yes, in the 2006 war I was able to leave Saida via Damascus airport. That is not an option at all with the failed state in Syria. The road to Syria is across the Beqaa Valley which has had the worst shelling. Would surely rather take my chances and stay in Saida.

Yesterday the FCDO sent an email asking us to register our details (for the third time since October 2023). Which of course I did. We read from the news that the UK is preparing for an evacuation. The Lebanese government announced that there will be no evacuations via the airport. Probably because Beirut airport is adjacent to Dahieh area. Last night there was bombing of a hanger on the Saida- Beirut highway. The road was blocked for some time with debris. The bombing around Saida did not stop through the night and all day yesterday, Wednesday.

Flights: for a long while now almost only the Lebanese airlines MEA has been flying (with reduced frequency) from Beirut airport. The nearest flight to London is scheduled for 4 October! Everything else is "sold-out" or cancelled really but is announced as such to reduce the panic. The one-way flight for the 4th October is priced at about US$3000 with no guarantees of either reaching the airport safely or the plane flying out. In any event, we cannot leave as ordinary travellers. My children's electronic annual residency cards are being renewed by the General Security (home office) since July! This usually takes 20 days. They advised me to go to the Beirut office and request a fast service but it is completely unsafe to do so even before this week's madness. The Dahieh area in Beirut is adjacent to the roads we will have to take to reach the General Security main office in Beirut.

For now we will wait for the evacuation plan the UK has prepared. Usually it happens via a sea port to Cyprus then we fly to London.

We held tight and stayed through the past particularly very difficult five years in Lebanon. Sheltered by a great community that always lent a hand, shared heartache as well as joyous times.Through the revolution which was crushed horribly by the Oligarchy, the economic breakdown, the Beirut port explosion and now this war we are being driven out.

So many people have left through those years. Including three of my siblings. When I left in 2006 my parents still had all my siblings with them at home. But now only one older sister stays in Lebanon and the youngest brother, who is a nurse, wants to leave Lebanon as soon as possible.

I am not Lebanese by citizenship but this is home too. This is my family's home too. All the family, friendships and community they have made are here and being ripped from it like this is devastating. I pray that the war will end immediately so we can make a humane plan to go back to the UK. One must never be forced to run away.

On a positive note, a local school's scouts group, which my son knows, are arranging some activities for displaced people at a government school in Saida. I hesitated a lot before agreeing for him to take part. But then if these young boys and girls didn't shoulder some of the responsibilities to help during these devastating times who will! It will be a good way for all to spend constructive time. I feel that I am in fact speaking while typing to you Pat, so thank you for listening, and sorry I am saying too much.

Everybody here is anxious and terrified of what will happen next. It helps when there is someone to talk to. I am forever grateful for all your prayers. Will keep you posted whenever I can It is 4.26 am now so good night and good morning