A new group of 69 people in vulnerable situations, Romanian citizens and first-degree family members, mostly women, children, medical cases, people in the area of maximum risk, were assisted on Monday, with a view to repatriation from the Republic of Lebanon, being transported to Romania on board an aircraft belonging to the Romanian Air Force, informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE).

According to the source, the 69 people were assisted by the staff of the Romanian Embassy in Beirut and by two mobile consular teams from the Rapid Reaction Unit of the ministry in order to issue travel documents and fulfill all the necessary formalities for boarding.

Steps have also been taken with the competent local authorities in order to safely carry out the flight.

The operation is also supported by other Romanian authorities, and upon the arrival on Romanian territory of Romanian citizens and their family members, the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will provide the necessary assistance in close cooperation with non-governmental organizations and Bucharest City Hall.

So far, as many as 212 Romanian citizens and their family members have been evacuated from Lebanon.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Romanian Embassy to the Republic of Lebanon will remain in permanent contact with the Romanian citizens and their family members who have reported their presence and registered at the diplomatic mission in Lebanon.

At the same time, the MAE recalls that a level 8/9 travel warning – „Avoid all travel!” – has been in effect since October 2023 for the entire territory of the Republic of Lebanon, available at https://www.mae.ro/node/2896, the information being constantly updated according to security developments in the region.

MAE reiterates its strong recommendation to Romanian citizens present in this country to register their presence at the Romanian diplomatic mission in Beirut, in order to facilitate consular protection.

AGERPRES