An Australian woman trapped in Lebanon and struggling to find a way to flee the war-torn country says she feels like she is “waiting to die” as the conflict in the Middle East worsens.
Teacher Josiane Vekas, 49, traveled from Adelaide to Lebanon six weeks ago to visit her family, but is now sheltering in place on the outskirts of Beirut, the country’s capital, as Israel carries out devastating airstrikes against the militia. Hezbollah and troops cross southern border.
Despite making desperate attempts to escape by air and boat, Vekas says he has been thwarted at every turn.
Her husband, Ferenc, in Australia, says the federal government has offered no help to help his wife escape, even though officials secured seats on flights for stranded Australians.
Vekas described being trapped in a war zone as terrifying.
“We hear the planes flying in the sky and sometimes they are very, very low and the sound is scary,” he said. nine news.
“Also, at night, when they bomb or attack, we hear the explosions.”
“If they attack this area, we’re done.”
Australian Josiane Vekas (pictured left with her husband Ferenc Vekas) is currently stranded in war-torn Lebanon.
Vekas added that the situation is getting worse every day.
“There is nothing left, no buildings, no cars, no house… nothing… the children are hurt,” he said.
“It’s like you can see the war in front of you and you can’t do anything.”
Vekas said he had two flights back to Australia cancelled.
He also faces increasing challenges getting to the airport.
“Even the taxi is afraid to take me to the airport…no one will take me to the airport…but even if I go to the airport, there are no flights,” he said.
You sit at home and wait. When will it be our turn? It’s very frustrating. Just sitting and waiting to die.
Vekas had two flights canceled and is now having trouble even finding a taxi driver willing to go to the airport (pictured).
Vekas even tried to take a boat from Beirut to Cyprus, which also posed risks.
“The captain told me that if there are waves, and high waves… it’s for everyone’s safety… we don’t do this trip, so it’s cancelled,” he said.
Her husband Ferenc said the federal government had not been of any help.
“I haven’t really heard much from the Australian government, other than what I read in the news,” he said.
“There’s been no real communication with them, so I found it disappointing.”
Vekas has not lost hope of arriving home safely.
‘We have hope. We hope they finish this soon, please,’ he said.
More than 1,700 Australians registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have been asked to leave Lebanon.
The federal government has secured 500 seats for Australian citizens on two flights leaving Lebanon on Saturday. Both flights have a stopover in Cyprus.
“What I would say to Australians who want to leave is to take whatever option is available to them,” said Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
“Please don’t wait for your preferred route.”
The federal government also reportedly won 80 seats. on flights leaving Lebanon on Thursday, but Only 35 Australian citizens accepted the offer.
Israel’s intense bombing campaign in Lebanon has displaced 1.2 million people, according to the Lebanese government
The escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has led to huge loss of civilian life and the displacement of some 1.2 million people, according to the Lebanese government.
An Israeli attack in Beirut last night killed two people and injured 11, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported.
The health system is now “struggling to cope”, with hospitals overwhelmed by the influx of people trapped by the Israeli bombardment of the capital and the south, where it says Hezbollah maintains strongholds.