A British-Lebanese woman has said her family has faced ‘psychological terrorism’ over fears of being bombed in Lebanon as people desperately try to flee the country.
Dalia Rishani, the vice chairwoman of the Center for Lebanese Studies, said some of her British-Lebanese family members – including her mother Rajaa and nine-year-old cousin Leila – are stuck in Lebanon amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Thousands of civilians have been leaving southern Lebanon as Beirut has been flattened by Israeli strikes, leaving cars and roads covered by the rubble debris of exploded buildings and hundreds killed and 1,000 wounded.
The UK has deployed 700 troops to Cyprus to prepare for a possible evacuation of thousands of Britons, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has urged Britons to leave immediately.
Mrs Rishani has said while her brother, Mohamed, managed to get a waitlist spot from Beirut to Jordan this evening [WED], her other family members have struggled to get flights.
The Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport remains open, but many airlines have cancelled flights, leaving those wanting to leave with limited options.
One airline, MEA Middle East Airlines, runs flights from Beirut to London – where Mrs Rishani lives – however flights are booked up until next week.
Other airlines meanwhile have waitlists for flights or have temporarily suspended operations.
Mrs Rishani said she tried to contact the British embassy on her family’s behalf to see if they could help, but did not receive a response.
She added they are ‘terrified’ of the conflict around them and while some are desperate to leave, some do not want to go as Lebanon is their home.
Others can’t afford the money for flights or accommodation in a new country.
Mrs Rishani told Metro: ‘It is very scary, they are very anxious.
‘We have already been reeling from the pager attacks and the walkie talkie attacks.
‘We have had air strikes, we have drones above us all night so people are not speaking.
‘There is real psychological terrorism, not only a physical fear of being bombed.’
Mrs Rishani, who splits her time between London and Beirut, added she was ‘extremely lucky’ to have caught a pre-booked flight out of Beirut herself on September 20 but her other family members have not yet managed to get seats.
Her mother Rajaa and mother-in-law May were both living near Beirut’s southern suburbs but fled to the capital in recent days.
According to the United Nations, more than 90,000 people have been displaced by five days of Israeli strikes on Lebanon.
A total of 200,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon since Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel nearly a year ago, drawing Israeli retaliation.
This week has been the deadliest in Lebanon since the bruising monthlong war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
Mrs Rishani added: ‘There are no rescue plans from the British embassy.
‘There is no sign that a British warship is going to come to evacuate them.
‘I do not know what it is going to take for them to rescue the British-Lebanese.’
An Foreign Office spokesperson said: ‘The safety of British nationals is our number one priority and the situation in Lebanon is deeply concerning. The ongoing mortar and artillery exchanges and airstrikes means the risk of escalation remains high. That’s why we are continuing to advise people to leave now while commercial routes remain available.
‘We are working in lockstep with our allies to de-escalate tensions. That’s why the UK has called for an immediate ceasefire from both sides so that we can get to the political settlement that’s required – and Israeli and Lebanese civilians can return to their homes.’
Metro contacted the British Embassy in Lebanon for comment.
MORE : British people told ‘leave Lebanon immediately’ as UK troops amass in Cyprus
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