Region | Lebanon
Business reporter finds himself in midst of war zone
A journalist on the Gulf News' business desk was in Beirut on Tuesday for a routine press conference but soon found himself in the middle of a war zone.
- By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:33 May 3, 2009
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Dubai: A journalist on the Gulf News' business desk was in Beirut on Tuesday for a routine press conference but soon found himself in the middle of a war zone.
Naushad K Cherrayil recounts his ordeal from the minute he heard the explosions in Southern Lebanon, and how he managed to escape.
"After getting only a few hours sleep, I heard in the morning that two Israeli soldiers were captured.
"I was supposed to leave Beirut on Thursday afternoon, but at 6am I was told that the airport had been bombed. All the other journalists were Arab, and they disappeared. But two other journalists, who were also based in Dubai, and I had to get to the Indian Embassy to get our visas for Syria. The Indian Embassy assured us we would be able to obtain a 24-hour visa at the Syrian border.
"The road to Syria was terrible. We could hear a van with loudspeakers with a man shouting in Arabic. Our driver said the Hezbollah soldiers were saying, ?Get ready for war. We will wipe Israel from the map.'
"I arrived at the Lebanese-Syrian border by 5.30pm on Thursday. There were between 20,000 to 30,000 people crying, screaming, and pushing. Police at the Syrian checkpoint did not allow us through, saying we had to get a visa from the Syrian Embassy. Finally an officer agreed to allow us entry after seeing my UAE residence visa.
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"I couldn't wait to get to the airport, I bought the first ticket I could; the 5.30am Friday Dubai flight. But it was an open-ticket and I was told I had to wait until there was a vacancy. Luck smiled on me. I boarded the flight."
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