FARAI Makamba, a 27-year-old student from Zimbabwe, has swapped his university books for travel documents, his passport, and cash—ready to leave Lebanon at a moment’s notice if needed. The situation in Beirut has become increasingly tense since he returned in September to finish his final year of a master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
Makamba, whose name has been changed for safety reasons, returned from Harare with hopes that the conflict would ease. However, following Hamas’s attack on Israel in October last year, clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon, have escalated significantly. In recent days, Lebanon has experienced its deadliest conflict in almost 20 years, with approximately one million people displaced, according to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
Israel’s military has launched extensive airstrikes in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa area, targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure. Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an airstrike last week. Additionally, a series of explosions involving pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members killed 39 people the previous week, although Israel has not confirmed involvement.
Amid the deteriorating situation, countries including the US, UK, Australia, France, Canada, and India have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. Many African students at the American University of Beirut (AUB), including Makamba, now face a difficult choice—whether to return home to safety or remain in Lebanon to continue their studies.
At AUB, around 90 African students are part of a scholarship programme. Makamba says fear among the students has risen sharply since the recent explosions. ‘We don’t know who is carrying a ticking time bomb in their pockets,’ he said, highlighting fears about safety in everyday interactions.
Classes at AUB have been moved online, with the campus now closed. ‘Even the way we communicate has changed,’ Makamba added. ‘When we finish class, our professor now says, “Have a good day and stay safe.” No one is truly safe.’
Another student, Sharon Atyang from northern Uganda, is completing her master’s in community development. She says returning home would make it nearly impossible to continue her studies online due to electricity and internet challenges. ‘I don’t know if I travel home that they would bring me back here if the situation stabilises,’ she said.
Similarly, Adele Pascaline from Cameroon, whose name has also been changed, said that returning home would hinder her ability to complete her undergraduate radiology degree, as she needs to complete clinical rotations in Lebanon.
The scholarship programme has given students the option to return home and complete their studies online, but for many, that is not practical. The Mastercard Scholarship Programme, which finances many African students in Lebanon, stated it is closely monitoring the situation and has offered support to students who wish to leave. ‘AUB is regularly communicating with the students and has offered support for their health and well-being,’ a Mastercard Foundation spokesperson told the BBC.
Flights out of Beirut have become increasingly difficult to secure, with major airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air France, and Lufthansa suspending their services. Some students, like Atyang, say they are constantly on edge, often hearing sonic booms from Israeli fighter jets over Beirut. ‘I found myself hiding in the toilet when I heard the sound barrier breaking,’ she said. ‘I am emotionally and mentally unstable, unable to do anything.’
Some African governments have started evacuation processes. Kenya confirmed that nine of its citizens returned home in August, with an estimated 26,000 Kenyans still in Lebanon. Ethiopian authorities also announced their plans to monitor the situation and prepare evacuation measures if necessary. There are approximately 150,000 Ethiopians in Lebanon, mostly domestic workers who face additional obstacles due to Lebanon’s kafala system, which requires their employers’ permission for them to leave.
For students like Makamba and Atyang, leaving might be easier than for others. Yet they are hesitant, driven by the desire to complete their education. ‘You are on your own, and you have to take care of yourself,’ Atyang told the BBC, summing up the difficult reality many African students face as they try to balance their education with their safety.
Credit: BBC
