Given the serious situation in Lebanon, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albaresthis Monday asked the Spaniards who are in the country, especially who They are in transit for tourism or workto leave the country as soon as possible through the commercial routes still open, that is, ship or plane. He has also detailed that there is an evacuation plan prepared for Spanish residents in case it is necessary to activate it.
Albares too has “completely” advised against undertake trips to Lebanon to all those Spaniards who plan an imminent trip.
“We have been telling the Spaniards who are in Lebanon for some time that they must leave the country through commercial means,” said José Manuel Albares, reporting that there is still an airline, Middle East Airlineswhich operates three weekly flights to Madrid, in addition to having Boat departures to Cyprus, Türkiye or Greece.
Regarding the 1,000 Spaniards who reside in Lebanon, the Foreign Minister has detailed that they have been sent an email to those registered at the Spanish Embassy in Lebanon to reconfirm the address and telephone number, and thus be able to contact them in case an evacuation plan has to be activated, already prepared “for the moment when it has to be done”, Minister Albares said in an interview with Catalunya Ràdio.
In the recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is also recommended to remain attentive to the social networks and other means of communication of the Spanish Embassy in Beirut.
Spaniards “with flights scheduled for the next few days are also recommended to consult with their airline regarding the possibility of changes in schedules or flight cancellations.”
The Foreign Ministry especially advises against “any movement south of the Litani River and in the Bekaa, as they are especially dangerous.” And it also marks several high-risk areas that it recommends not going to:
High risk areas that should be avoided
- In Beirut, the neighborhoods of Dahiyeh, and in particular the areas of Ouzai, Haret Hreik, Bir Hassan and Moawad Street.
- Border areas between Lebanon and Syria – As a general rule, it is advisable not to approach a 15 km strip. from the Syrian-Lebanese border, except access to Syria through the legal border points between both countries. In any case, please remember that trips to Syria are totally inadvisable.
- The Bekaa Valley. Areas close to the Syrian border, especially the town of Arsal and its surroundings, are still considered high-risk areas. It is considered that any movement through the border area must be carried out with great caution and for a justified reason, in addition to being accompanied by local personnel who know the region. In any case, it is considered inadvisable to travel to Syria, not even through the legal border points enabled by the Lebanese government. On the other hand, this area of the country has traditionally been inhabited by numerous criminal groups, especially some dedicated to drug trafficking. These groups are organized into family clans and are usually heavily armed. Clashes between the different clans or between them and the government forces deployed in the area are quite common. Although foreign citizens do not appear to be a specific target for most criminal groups in the area, this area should be considered at risk, since government control of the territory is not as effective as in other areas of the country. country.
- In the current situation, traveling to the Roman ruins of Baalbek is not recommended.
- Akkar Region – Located in the coastal area in the north of the country, next to the border with Syria, it is an area where numerous criminals also live, and where government control of the territory is not as effective as in other areas of the country. country which, together with its proximity to Syria, makes its visit unrecommended.
- Southern region of the country, UNIFIL area of operations, south of the Litani River (see Important Notes) – Travel south of the Litani River is especially discouraged.
- Palestinian refugee camps – Some Palestinian refugee camps are closed and controlled by Lebanese and Palestinian security forces, so access is not possible except with authorization from local authorities. It is possible, however, to access other former refugee camps in urban areas open to the transit of people and vehicles. In the current situation, both the interior and the surrounding areas and areas adjacent to all of them are discouraged because the security situation may suddenly deteriorate. If you decide to travel to these areas, it is recommended to go with caution and always accompanied by local personnel.
Medium risk areas
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- City of Sidon (Saida), avoiding the Palestinian fields and its surroundings.
- City of Tripoli, the level of security has worsened due to the economic crisis that particularly affects this city. The neighborhoods of Bab el Tabaneh, Jabal el Monseh and Nahr Abu Ali-Al Mina should be avoided. It is not recommended to go further north, to areas very close to the Syrian border, unless accompanied and for well-justified reasons. It is advisable to inform yourself about possible protests and disturbances due to the economic situation, given that they have been taking place relatively frequently in this town.
- In Beirut, the Palestinian refugee camps are accessible areas with strong security measures, but in the current situation, frequenting these camps and areas near them is completely discouraged.
This Monday, Albares also sent a message of solidarity and affection to the almost 700 Spanish soldiers who are on the Blue Line, which marks the limit between Israel and Lebanon, for their “priceless work” in favor of “peace and defense of international law. “As Minister of Foreign Affairs, I will always be at your side because I will always be at the side of the UN and the defense of international law and the protection of defenseless civilians,” he added.
