By MKT Correspondent
Members of Parliament have expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in Lebanon and called upon the government to expedite the evacuation of Kenyan citizens.
The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations met with the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, PS, State Department for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Korir Singoei and PS, State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Ms. Roseline Njogu.
During the meeting, Committee members learnt the escalating violence in Lebanon has led to the displacement of over a million people and the loss of 1,873 lives.
“We have an estimated 26,000 Kenyans in Lebanon approximately 7,000 have registered seeking evacuation. While no Kenyan casualties have been reported, the situation remains volatile,” remarked Mudavadi.
He revealed that a multi-agency committee has been established to coordinate evacuation efforts.
“The State Department for Diaspora Affairs has set up a Multi-Agency Committee which held its inaugural meeting on 6th August 2024. The Committee developed the Evacuation Plan that is now being implemented,” said Mudavadi.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary assured the Committee that the government is working tirelessly to ensure the safety of Kenyans in Lebanon.
“Through the Kenyan Embassy in Kuwait in liaison with the Honorary Consul in Lebanon, we have kept abreast of the daily developments with the aim of ensuring that Kenyans in Lebanon are adequately advised on safety measures to take pending their evacuation,” added PS, State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Ms. Roseline Njogu.
The State Department for Diaspora Affairs also outlined measures taken to assist Kenyans in Lebanon, including setting up a registration process, providing emergency contacts, and working with the Lebanese government to secure safe shelters.
“To date 3 cohorts have traveled back into Kenya with cohorts 4 and 5 expected back over the weekend. Those who travel are received at the airport by a multiagency team and provided with psychosocial support,” said Mudavadi.
Committee Members sought details on the measures taken to reach out to Kenyans in Lebanon and urged the government to accelerate the process given the deteriorating security situation.
“We understand the challenges involved in evacuating citizens from a conflict zone, but the safety of our people is paramount,” said Committee Chair, Nelson Koech. “We urge the government to prioritize the evacuation of Kenyans and provide them with the necessary support and resources.”
Documents scrutinized by the Committee revealed that the Diaspora Affairs State Department had evacuated 1,170 distressed Kenyans from Sudan following the outbreak of a political crisis on 15th April, 2023.
A further, 107 Victims of human trafficking were evacuated from Laos/Myanmar and one from Albania on medical grounds and a total of 159 distressed Kenyans from different countries including Israel, Malaysia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania and Qatar in partnership in the 2023/24 financial year with International Organization for Migration and Awareness Against Human Trafficking.
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