- Title: Lebanese stranded abroad by coronavirus outbreak return home
- Date: 5th April 2020
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (APRIL 5, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF BEIRUT RAFIC HARIRI AIRPORT
- Embargoed: 19th April 2020 17:55
- Keywords: Lebanon airport coronavirus expats health
- Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- City: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA003C87S6S5
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PART QUALITY AS INCOMING
Several flights carrying Lebanese stranded abroad by coronavirus lockdowns began arriving in Beirut on Sunday (April 5), part of a trial run to assess whether thousands looking to come home can be safely repatriated without worsening the country's outbreak.
Their return became a charged issue after powerful parliament speaker Nabih Berri threatened to suspend support for the government if it did not act quickly and other top figures urged immediate action.
About 21,000 Lebanese had registered for flights back to Lebanon, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said.
Four flights on Sunday, from Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Lagos and Abidjan, will return about 400 passengers, according to airport sources. They will be tested for coronavirus at the airport and quarantined at hotels while awaiting results.
Lebanon's crippling financial crisis including tight capital controls has complicated the plight of Lebanese stuck abroad, with tough restrictions on accessing cash. The government has pledged to help ease bank transfers for students overseas.
Lebanon has recorded 527 coronavirus cases and 17 deaths. Health officials warn that many facilities are ill-equipped to take on a major outbreak of the pandemic amid a months-long dollar shortage that has disrupted supply chains.
(Production: Yara Abi Nader, Alaa Kanaan) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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