There is not enough room for everyone who has expressed an interest in leaving Beirut on a commercial flight chartered by the UK Government, it is understood.
Around 200 British citizens will be evacuated from Lebanon today amid growing fears the international airport will not be open by the weekend.
Although the Foreign Office will pay to charter the flight from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, British nationals will be expected to pay a fee of £350 per seat.
However, there are now concerns that hundreds of eligible people could be left behind as the situation becomes worse.
There is not enough room for everyone who has expressed an interest in leaving Beirut on a commercial flight chartered by the UK Government, it is understoodReutersBritish nationals and their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18 are eligible to take the flight, with vulnerable people taking priority.
A Government source has said the Foreign Office has not ruled out taking on more flights “while the airport stays open”, according to The Times.
Concerns have also been raised about the road to Beirut’s Rafic Hariri international airport – which is through a Hezbollah stronghold.
Areas within a few hundred metres of the airport have already been bombed.
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Despite Israel avoiding targets which may contain foreign nationals fleeing the country, there are still risks for British citizens flying to safety.
One Lebanese local discussed the risks involved in reaching the airport: “The roads leading to the airport are dangerous because you never know where they [Israel] are going to bomb.
“You don’t know where the target is or even if someone they want to kill is on the road.”
Travelling to the airport involves passing places such as the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh – the target area where Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, was killed on Friday.
Around 200 British citizens will be evacuated from Lebanon today amid growing fears the international airport will not be open by the weekend
Reuters
The Foreign Office is reportedly exploring alternative methods to evacuate UK nationals, as no commercial flights are expected to be available from the country in the coming days.
David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, has said the situation in Lebanon “is volatile and has potential to deteriorate quickly” and the safety of British citizens there “continues to be our utmost priority”.
He added: “That’s why the UK government is chartering a flight to help those wanting to leave. It is vital that you leave now as further evacuation may not be guaranteed.”