In a strongly-worded advisory, the Department of Foreign Affairs is urgently counselling all Irish nationals to depart Lebanon, capitalising on the current availability of commercial options. The Department discourages any travel to the country in light of the ongoing conflict, marking the situation as progressively perilous.
Significant risks have escalated near the Lebanese border with Israel, resulting from recurrent clashes between heavily fortified militants based in Lebanon and the Israeli army. Irish citizens are left vulnerable, warned that the crises may yield minimal assistance from the Department, in the event of the situational deterioration.
As we step into the Hamas-controlled healthcare territory in Gaza, the grim reality unveils close to 6,500 casualties since the 7th of October, a consequence of the incessant Israeli bombings in the region. The initial onslaught on Israel by Hamas claimed more than 1,400 lives, leaving over 200 individuals trapped as hostages in Gaza.
The Department cautions its citizens, “In the event that immediate evacuation from Lebanon is infeasible, extreme caution is advised during local travels. Concurrently, it is recommended that contingency plans be formulated for an as-soon-as-possible departure.”
A farther mandate to Irish citizens includes the up-to-date maintenance of significant documents such as passports, aiding in curbing any hurdles during untimely evacuations.
The precarious situation also necessitates residents to steer clear from protests and demonstrations due to the high probability of violence, urging them to remain vigilant and heed the advice of local authorities.
Irish citizens based in Lebanon who haven’t registered with the Irish Embassy in Cairo are being strongly advised to do so.
The department states, “In dire circumstances or required emergency assistance outside of regular office hours, Irish citizens should use the following number: +20 1274443942.”
