Feds warn Canadians in Lebanon to find their way out of the place if they can
The federal government is urging Canadians in Lebanon to find their own way out of the country as Ottawa warns that a government-led evacuation may not be possible if clashes worsen along Israel’s northern border.
“We have informed Canadians in Lebanon that if the armed conflict in the country were to intensify, it could impact their ability to leave the country by commercial means,” a statement from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) read late Sunday night.
“Canadians should not rely on the Government of Canada for assisted departure or evacuation. The best time to leave a country is before a crisis if at all possible. They should leave by commercial means now if they can do so safely.”
The warning is Ottawa’s latest reminder to the growing number of Canadians registered in Lebanon that government-assisted evacuations of civilians is “rare” and that citizens should not rely on the federal government for help.
Skirmishes between Hezbollah militants and the Israel Defence Forces have escalated along the Israel-Lebanon border, prompting thousands in Lebanon’s south to flee amid fears that the violence could spill deeper into the country.
More than 17,000 Canadians have registered with Global Affairs Canada indicating they are currently in Lebanon, although the true number of citizens there is likely higher.
Earlier this month, GAC updated its travel advisory in Lebanon, advising against travel there for any reason.
Global Affairs is working in tandem with the Canadian Armed Forces to co-ordinate a potential evacuation. The Canadian military currently has a presence in Cyprus, Greece, Israel and Lebanon in preparation for a possible operation.
The number of Canadians registered in Lebanon far exceeds the 5,763 registered in Israel and the 452 in Gaza and the West Bank.
During the war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006, the federal governmet mounted what it then called its largest-ever evacuation operation, moving about 14,370 people via ships from Lebanon to Cyprus and Turkey. Canadians were then flown home on more than 60 chartered flights.
The operation was a complex undertaking, complicated by Israel striking the Beirut airport and additional damage to transportation infrastructure and communications networks in Lebanon.
But it was further hampered by Canadians failing to register their information with Global Affairs, a senate committee concluded in 2007.
“What people have been trained to do — and this was one of the lessons we learned back in 2006 — is to try as much as you can to contact those people,” said Sen. Peter Boehm, a former diplomat who helped lead the operation.
Boehm told the Star that compared to 2006, communication with Canadians on the ground and registering their location and contact details is now much better.
The possibility of a mass evacuation out of Lebanon means Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly must walk a careful line with countries like Turkey, which has defended Hamas — a group Canada has labelled a terrorist organization.
“We need to work with Turkey, because there’s a potential Lebanon evacuation happening, which will be done through Cyprus and potentially Turkey,” Joly told the Star’s editorial board on Monday.
If such an operation does unfold, Global Affairs says only Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate family members (a spouse, child or a minor’s guardian) are eligible for a government-assisted departure.
“All travellers will require valid travel documents for their assisted departure. If Canadians or any members of their family do not have valid travel documents for Canada, they need to complete the appropriate application as soon as possible,” a statement from Global Affairs said.
This article was reported by The Star
