Source: Morocco Committed to Prioritizing Safety of Citizens Stranded in Lebanon

As the Moroccan government faces intense criticism over the apparent lack of evacuation plans for Moroccans in war-torn Lebanon, an authorized source has confirmed to Morocco World News (MWN) that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to monitor the situation of all Moroccans in Lebanon to ensure their safety.

In line with the evolution of the security situation in Lebanon, the source said, Morocco’s foreign ministry recently issued a series of measures, including the establishment of a permanent crisis unit, in charge of closely following the relevant developments in the country and taking the necessary actions for the benefit of the Moroccan community.

“The Moroccan embassy in Lebanon, under the ministry’s guidance, has also formed a similar crisis unit that maintains direct contact with members of the Moroccan community, receiving their calls, ensuring their well-being, and providing guidance to ensure their safety,” the source added.

These reassuring remarks come in the wake of intense criticism from Moroccans in Lebanon, some of whom recently took to social media to vent their frustration over the absence of charter flights for Moroccan citizens despite the alarming escalation of Israeli strikes in Beirut and across Lebanon.

“Middle East Airlines is the only carrier still operating, but all its flights are fully booked until October 18,” a Moroccan student at the American University in Beiurt told MWN on Monday.

The student, speaking under a condition of anonymity, expressed concerns about the lack of updates over any sort of evacuation plans for Moroccans.

When asked about such complaints and increasing show of dissatisfaction with the government’s apparent silence, the authorized source argued that relevant authorities have been working to assess the situation and determine what’s needed for the Moroccan community in Lebanon.

The Moroccan embassy in Beirut is in “continuous contact with the vast majority of the Moroccan community residing in Lebanon,” the source said, adding that the embassy has collected the necessary contact information to monitor the conditions of Moroccans.

Only a few exceptions have been recorded, the source argued, saying these exceptions entail some citizens’ locations remaining unknown since they likely already left Lebanon before the situation deteriorated, the source argued.

“A significant number of our citizens left Lebanon with their families during the period leading up to the current events and immediately after warnings and calls to leave began to circulate,” they added.

The source acknowledged that the Moroccan community like many others face challenges due to the evolving tensions in the country, but noted that these issues are being met with a “spirit of familial solidarity” in Lebanon which contributes to mitigate some of the event’s impacts.

The authorized source further explained that the embassy has been working with Lebanese authorities to facilitate the search for accommodation for Moroccans.

The goal of this joint operation with local authorities is to address the issue of housing for displaced persons to coordinate the “acceptance of Moroccan citizens in shelter centers.”

Responding to concerns about potential evacuation plans, the source emphasized that the monitoring units deployed under the ministry and the diplomatic mission in Beirut are not studying and developing all possible scenarios based on the evolving situation and are mobilized to serve the Moroccan community in Lebanon.

The source concluded by stressing that the Moroccan mission and the ministry are closely and continuously monitoring developments to activate further measures that ensure the safety and security of Moroccans in Lebanon.

The situation in Lebanon is deteriorating due to the ongoing airstrikes and ground invasion by the IOF, who claim that their operation is aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s “military infrastructure.”

The Israeli campaign in Lebanon has sparked international uproar, with many observers accusing western powers’ silence or inaction as enabling Israel’s ongoing killing spree in both Lebanon and Palestinian territories. In Lebanon, the IOF’s violent campaign has killed over 1,800 and injured more than 6,000 over the past few days.

Meanwhile, the death toll across Gaza has surged to 41,788 since October of last year, while over 96,794 have sustained various injuries in the same period.