In the summer of 2006
Lebanon was subjected to an intense bombardment targeting buildings, bridges and roads. Lebanese residents and migrants, visitors and vacationers were suddenly faced with a war that would endanger them physically and test them emotionally. By providing an objective insight, this report aims to capture the impact of the war as it unfolded, the evacuation that took place and the personal experiences encountered.
Like other foreign nationals, the Lebanese expatriates called upon the embassies of their countries of immigration to assist them in departing Lebanon and escape hostilities.
With the exhaustive journey by land or sea to Syria, Cyprus, Turkey and Jordan, countries that provided a safe haven, these migrants returned home worrying about families left behind and a country under siege.
The study brings forward the age-old phenomenon of Lebanese migration illuminated by true stories and first hand accounts of Lebanese migrants coming under-fire. It questions them on how the highly charged thirty four days of war:
- Played a part on their decision to leave.
- Had an effect on their psyche and health.
- Had an impact on their decision to permanently return to Lebanon.
The circumstances leading up to the war are placed within a historical context and the report provides a summary of key findings where appropriate policies are recommended.
The impact of the summer 2006 war on migration in Lebanon : emigration, remigration, evacuation and return : a preliminary study.
Guita G. Hourani
First Edition
Published by: NDU Press
Copyright© 2006
Lebanese Emigration Research Center (LERC)
Notre Dame University, Louaize
P.O. Box: 72, Zouk Mikael – Lebanon
About the Author
Guita G. Hourani is associate director of the Lebanese Emigration Research Center at Notre Dame University (Lebanon) and a member of the university’s Research Board.
In Lebanon, Ms. Hourani has also served as a migration expert for the Maronite Patriarchal Synod (2003-2005), and has taught and acted as an advisor to the vice president for international academic relations at Holy Spirit University.
In Washington, DC, she worked as an international development consultant for the World Bank and for several other organizations. Academically, she was a fellow at the Institute of Christian Oriental Research at the Catholic University of America. She is the founder and elected chairperson of the Maronite Research Institute in Washington, where she created and edited the Institute’s electronic Journal of Maronite Studies.
Ms. Hourani has presented papers at several international conferences namely in Italy, Tunisia
And Mexico.
CHAPTER I Introduction: Lebanon Overview
- 1.1 Lebanon Before the War
- 1.2 Life in Lebanon before the Summer 2006 War: Advantages and Disadvantages
- 1.2.1 Advantages
- 1.2.2 Disadvantages
- 1.3 Concluding remarks
CHAPTER II Objectives and Methods
CHAPTER III Lebanese Migration Overview
- 3.1 Background: The ‘Environment of Insecurity’ and Lebanese Emigration
- 3.2 The ‘True Promise’ vs. the Promising Summer
CHAPTER IV Emigration, Re-Migration and Evacuation
- 4.1 Leaving Lebanon
- 4.2 Australia’s Evacuation Operation
- 4.3 Brazil’s Evacuation Operation
- 4.4 Canada’s Evacuation Operation
- 4.5 France’s Evacuation Operation
- 4.6 Germany’s Evacuation Operation
- 4.7 Mexico’s Evacuation Operation
- 4.8 Nigeria’s Evacuation Operation
- 4.9 Sweden’s Evacuation Operation
- 4.10 Switzerland’s Evacuation Operation
- 4.11 The United Kingdom’s Evacuation Operation
- 4.12 The United States’ Evacuation Operation
CHAPTER V Safe Havens
- 5.1 Designation of Safe Havens
- 5.2 The Role of Cyprus
- 5.3 The Role of Syria
- 5.4 The Role of Turkey
- 5.5 The Role of Jordan
CHAPTER VI Evacuation Operations Raised Immigration Issues
- 6.1 Introduction
- 6.2 Loyalty of Dual Citizens Living in Their Country of Origin
- 6.3 Taxing Dual Citizens Living in Their Country of Origin
- 6.4 Abolishing Dual Citizenship
- 6.5 Paying for Evacuation
- 6.6 Temporary Protected Status for Lebanese Stranded Outside of Lebanon
CHAPTER VII Results of LERC’s Questionnaire
- 7.1 Introduction
- 7.2 Demographic Profile
- 7.3 Socio-Economic Characteristics
- 7.4 Years of Migration, Geographical Residency and Reasons for Migration
- 7.4.1 Years of Migration
- 7.4.2 Residency Abroad by Region
- 7.4.3 Reasons for Migrating
- 7.5 Location in Lebanon, Purpose of Visit during the Summer of 2006
- 7.5.1 Location in Lebanon When the War Started
- 7.5.2 Reasons for Visiting Lebanon
- 7.6 Residency Status outside of Lebanon
- 7.7 Departure from Lebanon following the Onset of the Summer 2006 War
- 7.7.1 Date of Departure
- 7.7.2 Reasons for Departure
- 7.7.3 Means of Departure
- 7.7.4 Destination after Departure
- 7.7.5 Travel Companions
- 7.7.6 Citizenship, Residency and Visa Value
- 7.7.7 Evaluating Evacuation
- 7.8 Feelings at Leaving Because of the Summer 2006 War
- 7.9 Physical and Psychological Impact of the Summer 2006 War
- 7.9.1 Physical Injury
- 7.9.2 Psychological Damage
- 7.9.3 Loss of Life
- 7.9.4 Property Damage
- 7.9.5 Financial Losses
- 7.10 Return and Conditions for Return
- 7.10.1 Number of Times Resettled in Lebanon and Left Again
- 7.10.2 Reasons for Returning to Lebanon following the Summer 2006 War
- 7.10.3 Considering Permanent Return
- 7.10.4 Conditions for Permanent Return to Lebanon
- 7.11 The Gendered Experience of Migration
- 7.11.1 Marital Status
- 7.11.2 Experiences Exclusive to Being Female
- 7.11.3 Psychological Impact
- 7.11.4 Impact of the War on Ability to Function
- 7.12 In Their Own Words
CHAPTER VIII Key Findings
- 8.1 Introduction
- 8.2 Key Findings and Policy Recommendations
CHAPTER IX Arabic Summary
CHAPTER X Appendices
- Appendix 1: Israeli Air Strikes Targeting Lebanon
- Appendix 2: The Australian Government Decision to Deploy Australian Defence Force to Support the Evacuation of Australian Nationals from Lebanon
- Appendix 3: France’s Evacuation Plan “Operation ‘Baliste'”
- Appendix 4: United Kingdom Evacuation Route and Logistics
- Appendix 6: Senator John E. Sununu’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Bill
- Appendix 7: LERC’s Survey Questionnaire
