Second repatriation flight with 170 people from Lebanon lands in Eindhoven

The second Dutch repatriation flight from Lebanon landed at Eindhoven Airbase at around 8:50 p.m. on Saturday. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there were 170 people on the plane.

Among the passengers were more than a hundred people who had registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These are Dutch citizens, people with a valid residence permit for the Netherlands, or people who are the partner or child of a Dutch citizen. The other passengers were brought back at the request of Belgium, France, Austria, and Spain. They are being received by staff from the embassy of their own country and helped to travel home.

There were also 35 Belgians on the plane, including two Belgian journalists who were injured in Lebanon earlier this week. VTM journalist Robin Ramaekers and cameraman Stijn De Smet were attacked by a group of angry men in Beirut. De Smet was shot twice in the leg. Ramaekers was beaten and suffered fractures to his face. There is no information about the number of passengers from other countries.

More than 350 people were brought to the Netherlands with the two repatriation flights. Anyone who still wants to leave can report to the ministry. "The Netherlands continues to make efforts to help Dutch people leave, for example, with commercial airlines or repatriation flights from partner countries," according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Despite the threatening situation, there are also Dutch people who have decided not to leave Lebanon. "It varies from person to person, but I can imagine that not everyone wants to leave their home (...) and leave their pets behind, for example. Because they are not allowed to fly with you," said Ambassador Frank Mollen from Lebanon on NOS Radio 1 Journaal on Friday.

In recent days, around 500 people have registered with the ministry for a repatriation flight.