‘Everyone’s on edge’: Travel agent Maria Tadros says as Aussies urged to leave Lebanon

Australians in Lebanon are being urged to “leave immediately” as the security situation in the Middle East exacerbates.

Arrivals and departures from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (Lebanon’s only airport), have all been cancelled or delayed due to security and insurance risks amid tensions in Hezbollah.

Sydney travel agent Maria Tadros said there has been an increase in demand and pressure from customers eager to get home or cancel their upcoming arrival flights.

“Everyone’s on edge. Don’t get me wrong. I woke up to so many messages, missed calls. Yes, people are on edge. People are wanting for me to change their flights to bring them back home earlier… But unfortunately, they have to pay a fee to change. I am not sure if you are aware that all travel insurance has been suspended from last year. So anyone travelling to Lebanon are travelling with no travel insurance. So this is another risk they took to travel to Lebanon,” Tadros said.

These sentiments reiterate the attitude of Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who has warned Australians about the government’s inability to help those who stay in Lebanon.

“The travel advice very clearly is don’t go to Lebanon… Australian citizens should ensure that they take advantage of the commercial flights that are available out of Lebanon at this time. This is a troubling area… it is important that people are cognisant of those warnings,” Albanese said.

Source: SBS News.