To date, France, which has more than 24,000 citizens in Lebanon, mostly with dual nationality, recommends that those who want to leave do so at their own expense on commercial flights. An evacuation will only be triggered if Beirut’s airport, the only one in the country, is closed. During the 2006 war, it was bombed by Israeli aircraft on the second day of fighting. The first evacuations occurred on July 17, five days after the start of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, the flights of the national company Middle East Airlines (MEA), the only one currently operating from Lebanon, are being taken by storm. Planes bound for Paris or with stopovers such as Cyprus, Amman or Istanbul are full. When a ticket is available, it is overpriced. On Thursday, October 3, the MEA was to charter two additional flights to Paris. The French authorities have reserved one hundred and fifty places there. The price of each ticket was negotiated between $500 and $650, at the travelers’ expense. Priority is given to people suffering from chronic diseases and the elderly. Paris hopes to continue with this type of operations in the short term. This method, however, has its limits: other countries do the same, saturating the capabilities of the Lebanese company.
The rapid deterioration of the situation took everyone by surprise, including diplomats in Beirut, even though the risk of war had been present since the summer. “We feel greater concern among the French since the last escalation, with the Israeli attacks and the death of the Hezbollah leader. [Hassan Nasrallah, tué dans un énorme bombardement sur la banlieue sud, le 27 septembre]says Ghassan Ayoub, advisor to French people living abroad in Lebanon. Parents are also worried about the school year [les écoles sont fermées depuis le 24 septembre]. » He continues: “People call us every day in a panic and say, ‘Look what Germany is doing.’ [qui a envoyé un premier avion militaire d’évacuation lundi]Canada [qui a annoncé lundi avoir réservé 800 places sur des vols commerciaux]“, etc. But the French system is ready and will be activated in due time.”, he assures.
“There is a lack of communication”
In an email sent to French citizens on September 25, two days after the launch of the Israeli offensive against Lebanon, the consulate noted that “The security situation in Lebanon has deteriorated” and invited to “redouble caution and vigilance”specifying that an evacuation was not planned at this time. He asked the passing Frenchmen to leave alone. “There is a lack of communication. The message does not reach the seriousness of the situation”accuses a Franco-Lebanese woman recently arrived in Paris. On the French side, it is estimated that the various warnings that have been issued for months have not been taken into account.
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