KUWAIT: The firstgroup of Kuwaiti citizens fleeing the accelerated public protests in Lebanonarrived to Kuwait yesterday afternoon after Kuwait's Embassy in Beirut urgedall Kuwaitis to contact it in emergency cases to arrange their airborneevacuation if needed.
In this regard,Dean of Arab Diplomats and Kuwait's Ambassador to Lebanon Abdul Aal Al-Qenaiesaid that as soon as the situations started developing in Beirut, he received directinstructions from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh SabahAl-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to exert all possible efforts in order to ensurethe safety of Kuwaiti citizens in Lebanon and secure their safe return as soonas possible.
Qenaie added thata special crisis management cell was immediately formed to work 24/7 at theembassy quarters and Rafiq Al-Hariri international Airport to arrange theirflights out. "Evacuated citizens were instructed to gather at the embassyand then escorted by Lebanese military and security forces to theairport," he explained, noting that Kuwait Airways had charteredadditional flights to evacuate citizens in Lebanon.
The KuwaitiEmbassy in Lebanon had called on citizens who are determined to go to Lebanonto wait because of the demonstrations and conflicts there. Citizens in Lebanonmust take utmost care and stay away from demonstration areas, the embassy saidin a press statement on Friday, urging them to follow security guidelines andcontact the embassy on the number 00961071171441, in case of emergencyassistance.
Most of Lebanon'scities and regions witnessed protests, particularly in Aakkar and Tripoli.Lebanon's National News Agency and television footage confirmed that theprotesters barricaded major roads with burning tires. Roads were blocked at thesouth and in the cities of Sidon, Tyre, Nabatieh, Bint Jbeil, Marjayoun andHasbaya. Protests have halted most public and private institutions, warningschools and universities to close and banks to shut down. Demonstratorscondemned the government measures, especially with regard to new taxes andfees.
By MeshaalAl-Enezi