What drives a chancellor to travel to the totally impoverished nightmare country of Lebanon, where nothing works anymore? Two alarming facts: 1.5 million Syrian refugees out of a population of six million and Austrian UN soldiers on the border with Israel, where tensions are rising again.
A tough journey to South Lebanon: 5 hour 25 minute flight from Cyprus to Beirut; Transfer to a 30-year-old Russian UN military helicopter; Flee south at a safe distance from the coast, home to pro-Iranian Hezbollah. South Lebanon is a “Hezbollah country” with massive missile weapons for use against Israel, which could happen at any moment.
Chancellor in “Camp Edelweiß”
The chancellor meets the 185 soldiers of the army among the 3,000 members of the UNIFIL troops in their “Camp Edelweiß”. Nehammer expresses the thanks of the Republic: “You are a calling card for Austria in the international state association.”
Israel warns of worsening situation
“I have just come from Israel,” Nehammer continues, “there they fear that the situation with Iran will worsen, which would immediately translate into a worsening of the situation in southern Lebanon.” Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner on the soldiers: “The Austrians and Austrians can be proud of you.”
During the return flight to Beirut to meet President Michel Aoun, the chancellor falls asleep in the helicopter. Since arriving in Israel on Monday and the onward flight to Cyprus, the sun has been shining in unbearably warm weather.
Disaster years in Lebanon
The conversation with President Aoun outlines the disasters that the state of Lebanon has been experiencing for years: domestic political blockade by Hezbollah, devastating explosion in the port of Beirut, Covid pandemic and now the failure of Ukrainian grain deliveries. National income has fallen by 90 percent.
The chancellor warns: “We must ensure that the refugees stay here and do not leave for Europe. That is why we are supporting Lebanon with EUR 2.5 million to Welthungerhilfe.”
Source: Krone
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