October 6th 2024.
A woman from Australia has shared her terrifying experience of living in Lebanon with her husband and two young children as war continues to escalate in the country. Eliana Ibrahim, who was born in Sydney and has been living in Batroun for most of her life, expressed her concerns about the current situation in the country.
Despite the ongoing financial crisis and its impact on their lives, Ibrahim and her family had never considered leaving Lebanon before. However, with the recent escalation of violence, their safety has become a major concern. "Now it's different, it's a serious war. We are living in hell," Ibrahim told 9news.com.au. As a mother, she worries about the safety of her children every night and prays for their protection.
If Ibrahim decides to leave the country, she will have to leave her husband behind as he works for the Lebanese government. This is a heartbreaking situation for her as she will have to be separated from her husband and face the financial burden of starting over in Australia with no job and two children to support. "Thousands like me are facing other struggles here in Lebanon and the main struggle is financial issues," she shared.
The main reason why Ibrahim wants to leave Lebanon is for the safety of her children. She is determined to secure flights for herself, her two children, and her parents who also want to leave. "My main reason to leave is for my kids' safety," she said. Ibrahim has been in contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and is hoping to secure a flight back to Australia.
She also pointed out that she is not the only one facing this difficult situation. There are many other Australians in Lebanon who are in the same position as her. "I am 100 per cent not the only one," she added.
Fortunately, mercy flights have already been organized to evacuate Australians from Beirut to Cyprus. So far, 500 Australian citizens have been safely flown out of the country. They will be staying in temporary accommodation in Larnaca before taking connecting flights back to Australia.
It is estimated that there are over 3000 Australians in Lebanon who are registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and are looking to leave the country. As the situation in Lebanon continues to escalate, many families like Ibrahim's are facing the difficult decision of leaving their homes and loved ones behind for the safety of their children.
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