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Lebanon's long history of conflict has always led to significant population movements, both within the country or beyond its borders. The ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah is no exception, prompting a new exodus of Lebanese and non-Lebanese seeking peace and safety far from the violence. The numbers tell a striking story!
Over the years, Lebanon’s conflicts have consistently driven large-scale displacements, whether domestically or internationally. The current war between Israel and Hezbollah has similarly led to a surge in departures to various destinations. While exact figures remain elusive, the numbers are striking.
Middle East Airlines (MEA), Lebanon’s national carrier, has reported that, since foreign airlines ceased operations at Beirut International Airport (BIA), it has been running an average of 36 outbound and 36 inbound flights daily, carrying a total of 130,000 passengers. Of these, 110,000 have left Lebanon, while 20,000 have arrived.
Jean Abboud, president of the Syndicate of Travel Agency Owners, confirmed these numbers based on airport data. Speaking to This Is Beirut, he said that approximately 30 MEA planes depart Beirut daily, each with at least 150 passengers on board. This means that around 4,000 to 4,500 people—both Lebanese and foreigners—are leaving the country every day since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensified.
The primary destinations for Lebanese nationals are Canada and Europe. “Many are going to reunite with cousins, siblings or simply their children,” Abboud explained.
In many cases, women and children are joining the fathers, who are already working in Arab countries like Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, or in Africa. “Some families are even heading to Iraq,” Abboud noted.
However, Turkey remains the top destination. According to Abboud, MEA operates three to four daily flights to Istanbul. But many passengers are using Turkey as a transit point, continuing their journeys to North America, Europe or the Far East, as Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport connects to many major cities. While the flights departing from Beirut are fully booked, those arriving are almost empty.
No precise figures are available yet for those leaving by land.
As for sea departures, the numbers are unclear. However, trips are scheduled three times a week from the Port of Tripoli, and yachts are ferrying passengers from Dbayeh or Jounieh to Cyprus. The costs, however, remain steep, ranging between $1,500 and $2,000 for a one-way trip to Larnaca, Cyprus.
It’s worth noting that during the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, around 916,000 people were displaced within Lebanon, compared to over a million in 2024, according to official estimates. Additionally, some 220,000 left the country in 2006, according to a report from the Higher Relief Committee.
The 2006 war caused a major humanitarian crisis, with many Lebanese fleeing abroad. While exact figures may vary depending on the source, the scale of the exodus was significant. The numbers in 2024 are expected to be equally substantial!
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