September 25th 2024.
Maha, Noor, Rajaa, Karim, Chafica, Dalia, Saria, and Ali are all members of the Salaam family currently stuck in the chaos of Beirut. As the conflict between Hezbollah and Lebanon rages on, they find themselves trapped and unable to leave the country. This situation has caused immense fear and anxiety for the family, as they face the constant threat of being bombed.
Dalia Rishani, a British-Lebanese woman and vice chairwoman of the Center for Lebanese Studies, has spoken out about the overwhelming sense of psychological terrorism her family is experiencing. Her mother Rajaa and nine-year-old cousin Leila are among the family members who are unable to leave Lebanon due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The situation in the country has become dire, with thousands of civilians fleeing from southern Lebanon as Israeli airstrikes continue to devastate the area. The UK has even deployed troops to Cyprus in preparation for a possible evacuation of British citizens.
Despite the chaos and danger, Dalia's brother Mohamed was able to secure a spot on a flight from Beirut to Jordan. However, the rest of the family has not been as fortunate. Flights are limited and many have been cancelled, leaving them with few options for escape. Dalia reached out to the British embassy for assistance, but unfortunately received no response. The fear and uncertainty for her family's safety is only heightened by the fact that some of them do not want to leave as Lebanon is their home, and others cannot afford the costs of travel and accommodation in a new country.
Dalia herself was lucky enough to have a pre-booked flight out of Beirut on September 20th, but her mother and mother-in-law had to flee to the capital in recent days. According to the United Nations, over 90,000 people have been displaced by the ongoing conflict in Lebanon. This week has been the deadliest since the war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006. Dalia expressed her frustration with the lack of rescue plans from the British embassy and the absence of any indication that a British warship will be coming to evacuate them.
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office stated that the safety of British nationals is their top priority and they are working with allies to de-escalate the tensions. However, with the risk of escalation remaining high, they continue to urge people to leave while there are still commercial routes available. The ultimate goal is to reach a political settlement and allow civilians to return to their homes. Metro reached out to the British Embassy in Lebanon for further comment, but there has been no response. The situation in Lebanon remains dire and the Salaam family, along with many others, are still trapped in the midst of the conflict.
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