Region | Lebanon
Sri Lanka struggles to rescue nationals
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Beirut is struggling to rescue its nationals stranded in south Lebanon after communication facilities were hit in Israeli attacks.
- By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:33 May 3, 2009
Dubai: The Sri Lankan Embassy in Beirut is struggling to rescue its nationals stranded in south Lebanon after communication facilities were hit in Israeli attacks.
Speaking to Gulf News Sri Lankan Ambassador to Lebanon M.M.Amanul Farouqe said they are having problems reaching out to their nationals trapped in areas where communication was completely disabled by Israeli attacks.
"We have been left with no other means but to get our message across to them by word of mouth," he said.
There are about 80,000 Sri Lankans in Lebanon with a majority of them employed as domestic workers.
Only 270 Sri Lankans have been able to return home since the fighting started.
Sri Lankan diplomats in the region have been jointly working to try to get their compatriots out of harm's way. Additional consular staff have been sent to the embassy in Beirut by the Sri Lankan Bureau of Foreign Employment.
The Sri Lankan Embassy in the UAE is also in talks with a commercial airline to fly its nationals from Damascus to Colombo.
Terrified Sri Lankan maids who spoke to Gulf News from their embassy in Beirut said they had no alternative but to run away from their sponsors' houses.
A few among them said they had been left behind by their sponsors, who were either on vacation or had fled the country.
"The Lebanese family for whom I used to work fled leaving me behind. I asked them to help me get out of the country as well but they just gave me $75 (Dh275) and asked me to get in touch with my embassy. I am scared. I want to go back to Sri Lanka where I have a four-year-old daughter and a husband. I am unable to keep in touch with them. The last time I spoke to them was eight days ago," said Jayanti Gunasekara.
Ambassador Farouqe said they are doing their best to help their nationals.
With no place to go, he said Sri Lankans stranded in Beirut have taken refuge in their embassy.
"The embassy does not have the capacity to provide them with shelter for a long duration. It's a crisis situation. We have to get all the paperwork sorted out for those who want to leave, maintain continuous communication with Syria and get in touch with those who are trapped in remote areas."
"We want to do a quick evacuation in the wake of Syria only allowing a 48-hour transit stay to all evacuees. This means we need to arrange flights as soon as possible to airlift our nationals who have fled Lebanon by road and arrived in Damascus. We are not in the position to tell them when the next flight will be made available to them. They are currently staying in makeshift shelters over there," he said.
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