Profile - Evacuation from Lebanon
SMH picture by Kate Geraghty
Departmental staff reported for duty as bombs exploded around their homes in the southern suburbs of Beirut heralding Australia’s largest overseas evacuation.
‘They displayed an unselfish dedication to assisting clients when all had significant concerns for their own safety and that of their families,’ said Beirut Principal Migration Officer, Greg Wallis.
Staff found themselves at the frontline in the few weeks after bombs fell on Beirut Airport on 13 July 2006. In the six days after the evacuations were announced, departmental staff dealt with more than 2000 face-to-face inquiries. About 5000 people passed through the visa office between July 20 and 25 and departmental officers worked late into the night and at weekends.
And help came from well beyond Beirut. Those involved included Australian and locally-engaged staff from the Middle East, New Delhi and Europe. They worked closely with other Australian departments including Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence to help with the evacuation and immigration processing for Australian citizens and their immediate families.
Staff from Amman, Ankara, Dubai, Tehran, New Delhi and Berlin were deployed to Turkey, Syria and Cyprus to help with arrivals by overland routes and chartered ferries from Lebanon.
More than 4000 Australians were evacuated in the first two weeks of the crisis. The Beirut office remained open except in the first two days of the war, including a weekend to fast-track priority visa applications for people eligible for evacuation. Citizenship by grant was provided on the spot to ensure eligible clients could be evacuated on the same day.
Middle East Regional Director Joan Foster said a large number of evacuees suffered sea-sickness and dehydration on the ferries due to rough sea conditions. More than a month later, evacuees were still being helped to leave Turkey for Australia.
Staff involved showed the commitment, teamwork and excellence in client service that the department values.