Like other Arab and foreign students in Ukraine, hundreds of Lebanese students are trying to leave for neighboring European countries such as Poland and Romania, especially those residing in the eastern part of the country and the most dangerous areas. Rabi Kanj, president of the Lebanese Association of Parents of Students in Foreign Universities, spoke with "Sky News Arabia" about the situation of his country's students in Ukraine, which has been under Russian invasion for six days.
Kanj stated, "Of the more than 4,000 Lebanese residing in Ukraine, over 1,000 are students. With the outbreak of war and the dangers it poses to Lebanese students and others, we are working to coordinate with the students and facilitate communication among them so they can support each other and escape danger."
He added, "A significant number of them have already left Ukraine for neighboring European countries. We cannot currently estimate their number, but attempts to leave and evacuate are ongoing." He noted that students from other Arab nationalities, including Egyptians and Iraqis, are also participating in these coordination efforts.
Regarding their coordination with Lebanese authorities to assist stranded students, Kanj said, "Initially, the Lebanese government has stated that it will secure evacuation flights for Lebanese students in Ukraine who are crossing to Poland."
He continued, "Some Lebanese students are heading to Poland while others are going to Romania, depending on their location and the nearest country to them. They are honestly in very difficult situations as we can barely communicate with them over the past two days. Due to the circumstances of war and the deterioration of electricity and internet services, and to preserve their phone batteries, they primarily communicate by phone with their families in Lebanon."
According to Kanj, there are Lebanese students married to Ukrainians, some of whom also hold Ukrainian citizenship. However, "those in this category cannot leave as Ukrainian authorities are preventing men aged 18 to 60 from traveling, treating them as reserve soldiers who may be called to fight."
The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had advised on February 14 the Lebanese citizens in Ukraine to leave quickly and voluntarily until tensions ease and stability returns. It also urged Lebanese students enrolled in Ukrainian universities to communicate and coordinate in advance with their university administrations to preserve their academic rights.
