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Nearly 6,000 volunteers linked to a single support group are working tirelessly across the country to help those affected
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Tourists afraid to travel on Lebanon 'death road'
ABU DHABI - As Israeli warplanes continued their attack on Lebanon, it has become increasingly difficult to exit the country.
With air and sea routes already closed, the last exit out of the country was by land, through Masnaa, on the border with Syria.
Since Saturday, the Israeli started hitting bridges and petrol stations, making road travelling extremely dangerous. Although embassies of the Gulf countries have been providing means of transport for their nationals to take them over the border into Syria as airlines have increased their flights from Damascus, the four-hour drive from Beirut to Damascus is too dangerous because of air raids on roads and bridges.
Latifa, a Lebanese national who lives in Abu Dhabi is well aware of this situation. She told Khaleej Times: “My brother is a hotel manager in Beirut and he told me most of the hotel guests are still there. They fear to go through such a long drive, with bombs exploding on the main roads.”
Like many other Lebanese nationals, Latifa will have her annual leave in August. She wants to go home to visit her family and has already booked her air ticket with Etihad Airways. “I really hope the Beirut airport will be open by August 4, when I go,” she says, “but if it doesn’t, I don’t know what I can do.”
Apart from the Middle East Airways, Etihad is the main flight operator on the Abu Dhabi-Beirut route. Since the airport in Beirut has closed, the airline has moved their flights to Damascus, the nearest airport. Etihad has increased the number of flights from the Syrian capital, to help bring home UAE nationals as fast as possible.
“The number of extra flights from Damascus changes daily, according to passengers’ request,” says Antoinette, from the Etihad’s Call Centre. She also explains that anyone who purchased tickets to Beirut will receive a full refund if they wish so or will be rerouted to Damascus.
Lebanon is a favoured tourist destination for Emirates people. Along with the Lebanese nationals waiting to go home, they will have to put their plans on hold. The harder hit are now those stranded in Beirut. Their last way out, over the road to Damascus, has become far too dangerous.
As Latifa says, the situation is too chaotic, nobody knows how long it will last. “My family and friends are still in shock. There is too much bad news, happening too fast.”
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