BEIRUT. Close to 2,000 Turkish citizens and their families are set to evacuate Lebanon on Wednesday, boarding two Turkish navy landing ships, driven by escalating safety concerns as Israel intensifies its military operations against Hezbollah militants in the region.
Fearing for their security, the evacuees gathered at the Beirut port, where the ships—dispatched from Turkey on Tuesday—awaited their departure. Many cited the deteriorating conditions in Lebanon, both in terms of safety and economic stability, as reasons for their decision to flee.
“We cannot take this situation anymore. No one knows where this country is taking us. The siege is becoming bigger,” said Issa Malak, a dual citizen of Lebanon and Turkey. He added, “There is no bread here. There is no future in Lebanon.”
Before the evacuees could board, the ships unloaded humanitarian aid, including 300 tons of essential supplies. Turkish Ambassador Ali Baris Ulusoy confirmed to the Anadolu news agency that the cargo contained “beds, tents, blankets, food parcels, kitchenware, and hygiene kits.” The aid was a much-needed resource for many struggling families in Lebanon.
Amidst rising security concerns, evacuees spoke about the dangers they faced in their homes. “We’re leaving because the rockets and shells started dropping on us,” said Tarek Issa, one of the evacuees. Another evacuee, Mariam Darwish, explained that she was leaving with her 80-year-old Turkish father, noting that “the situation is becoming scary, and our neighborhood became unsafe. This is much safer for us and our children, our grandchildren, and our health.”
The Turkish ships are expected to reach Mersin, a city on Turkey’s eastern Mediterranean coast, after a 12-hour voyage. A source from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that, in addition to the Turkish evacuees, a small number of their foreign relatives would also be on board. The source added that should the demand for evacuation increase, Turkey would charter flights to facilitate further evacuations from Lebanon.
This mass departure follows Turkey’s collaboration with around 20 other nations to prepare for the possible evacuation of foreign nationals via Turkey. Just last week, hundreds of evacuees of various nationalities arrived in Turkey from Lebanon on a commercial ferry.
As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies, many fear for the region’s safety, prompting international evacuation efforts. Turkey continues to provide humanitarian support and a safe passage for those seeking refuge.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
