Testimonials from Canadian Evacuees from Lebanon

Note: The following appeal is now closed.  You can support our ongoing work by donating to the Canadian Red Cross

 

During the first few weeks of the conflict in the Middle East, thousands of Canadians had to be evacuated from Lebanon. 

More than 450 Canadian Red Cross volunteers were on hand in Montreal and other airports and train stations across the country, to provide help and comfort to more than 5,000 evacuees from Lebanon.

For those needing assistance, Canadian Red Cross provided shelter, food, and psycho-social help for 72 hours while returnees sorted out their personal situations.

In total, Canadian Red Cross assisted over 5,100 people. Some of the evacuees sent us notes regarding their experience. 

 


 

The Red Cross people were very patient and helpful to us.  We felt respected and cared for.  They provided food, water, toys for the children, and access to use the telephone.  Everything was very busy in Beirut but they got us through the process very quickly, including the line-ups and arranging to board the ship to go to Cyprus.  In Cyprus we were able to stay overnight in a school and were provided with showers, towels, and toiletry supplies.  We were very grateful.

We were met in the Montreal airport by Red Cross staff who asked if we wanted to stay overnight or keep proceeding to Western Canada.  We were able to have some time in a hotel then out to the airport to fly to Vancouver and then Kelowna.  We appreciate very much the efforts of the Red Cross staff.  It was a clear line from Beirut to Kelowna with the Red Cross.  Thank you.

August 1, 2006

 


 

Dear Red Cross staff and volunteers,

I would like to thank you all for the great effort you provided to help us reunite with our family again, by supplying us with all our needs from food, clothes, a place to sleep, and many others. Your kindness made us feel that we are not alone and we had someone that cares and we can depend on. Thank you.

 August 8, 2006

 


 

Dear all the Red Cross Employees & Volunteers,

Thank you, thank you, and thank you for everything! My family and I were among the thousands of families evacuated from Lebanon this past month. 

Although the trip was long and tiring, the hundreds of Red Cross people helped make our journey much easier.  Their friendliness and thoughtfulness was very comforting during this difficult period.  Their caring attention to detail and anticipation of our needs was truly amazing.  My children found the welcoming smiles along with treats and gifts. My family and I appreciate all the hard work and organization that this evacuation entailed.

August 22, 2006

 


 

Dear Canadian Red Cross,

My family are all Canadian citizens.  I am writing this e-mail to thank you for all the help you provided us while we were in Lebanon this summer.  We went to Lebanon for a holiday, and had only been there 12 days when the war started.  We came back to Canada on the boat that left the Beirut port on August 13, 2006.  We arrived back in Edmonton on August 16.

The war was a horrible ordeal, and Lebanon is now torn to pieces because of it.  Personally, we had never witnessed anything so tragic and devastating.  We wanted to thank you (The Canadian Red Cross) for all the help and support you provided for us, and everything you did to help get us safely out of the war.  Everything you provided was great; from the service and food on the boat, to the air-conditioned buses, to the amazing hotels we stayed in, and to the airplanes we boarded.

You are all truly amazing.

August 22, 2006

 


 

To protect and respect the privacy of the authors, their names have not been posted online.