Lebanese in the Congo: We Have the Right to Return with Tickets We Can Afford
By Al-Ahed News Website
More than 1500 Lebanese citizens want to return to their homeland, but high ticket prices are preventing them from doing so.
It is not easy for Lebanese expatriates in the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] to leave behind everything they built there. However, the coronavirus crisis is giving birth to an exceptional reality in the countries it hits. This is especially true in African states that have frail health systems where fears are growing that they will not be able to cope with the global pandemic.
On Tuesday, the first Middle East Airlines [MEA] plane carrying Lebanese passengers – 99 economy and 20 business – flew from Congo. Many from the Lebanese community in that country are waiting for their turn to return but fear it’s a long way off.
Ali Nasrallah, a Lebanese expatriate, told Al-Ahed about the concerns of Lebanese nationals in Congo and the dilemma surrounding their return.
"We are facing a problem with MEA because it is monopolizing the return of the expatriates. Hence, they are not allowed to travel with other airlines such as Ethiopian Airlines," he said.
According to Nasrallah, much of the Lebanese communities may not return as long as the prices of the tickets remain high. The price of a roundtrip ticket with Ethiopian Airlines ranges from $ 600 to $ 700 under regular circumstances. However, the price of a one-way ticket with MEA now stands at $ 1,800 per person. This is unaffordable for most families, especially those with several children. How will they afford the cost of hotels as a mandatory quarantine?
Nasrallah indicated that the Ethiopian Airlines is ready to transport the expatriates, but the Lebanese state is refusing to give it permission. This would confirm MEA’s efforts to monopolize the return of the expatriates.
But things get worse. Nasrallah explained that some Lebanese families are waiting for the third and fourth round of flights for ticket prices drop. However, if they continue waiting, they might jeopardize their return. Some well-off families that wanted to leave bought the expensive tickets because they could afford it.
Nasrallah pointed out that the number of those wishing to return to Lebanon exceeded 1500 people, which means that they need 12 flights each with 120 people on board. And the number is on the rise.
The Lebanese are worried about the next batch. Nasrallah spoke about expatriates in Abidjan who were reluctant to return because the prices of the tickets are high. The same might happen to the expatriates in Congo if the prices don’t change. He called on the relevant authorities to immediately look into this matter.
Nasrallah stressed that this is an evacuation of the Lebanese and not an ordinary travel. Hence, it is their right to return to their country, and not to die in foreign countries where they have no one to bury them.
Regarding Tuesday’s trip, Nasrallah conveyed the returning expatriates’ satisfaction with the measures taken.
"The Lebanese ambassador and members of the Lebanese community as well as airport staff helped facilitate the returnees’ affairs and completed the transactions and documents for the return despite the exceptional circumstances they are going through, much like the rest of the countries in the world," Nasrallah said.
He said that when it comes to the health measures "there is a high degree of organization. All preventive precautions associated with preventing the spread of the coronavirus were taken into account."
Nasrallah noted that "for the first time, we see an achievement of this magnitude by members of the Lebanese community, especially Sheikh Munir Fadel."
