Kenyan domestic worker Eulita Jerop, who has been employed in Lebanon for 14 months, is desperate to return home but is trapped due to restrictive employment terms amid escalating fears of a full-scale war. Jerop, 35, has been living in fear after hearing unsettling overhead noises, which she was told were from planes breaking the sound barrier. Despite reassurances that these sounds are not bombs, the tension in Beirut is palpable.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has intensified since the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, has heightened concerns. The fighting has mostly affected southern Lebanon and northern Israel, but there are growing fears that the violence might spread.
Many foreign workers in Lebanon are facing difficulties leaving the country due to the “kafala” system, which ties their immigration status to their employer. This system, in place for an estimated 250,000 foreign workers, often restricts their freedom and puts them at risk of exploitation.
Jerop’s attempts to leave are hampered by her employer’s refusal to grant her an exit visa, a requirement under Lebanese law. “My employers say there’s nothing to worry about and want me to continue working,” Jerop says. “But the sounds and situation are very frightening for us.”
With only a few flights available and high ticket prices—up to $1,000 to Kenya—escaping Lebanon is challenging for many. Banchi Yimer, who supports Ethiopian domestic workers, reports that many are not being paid due to Lebanon’s severe economic crisis. Yimer’s organization is inundated with calls from panicked workers seeking evacuation help.
Chiku, a Kenyan worker in Baabda, is also struggling to afford a flight home and faces pressure from her employer to stay. “They say I can’t leave because my contract isn’t finished, but is this contract more important than my life?” she questions.
The Kenyan government has pledged to assist in evacuating its citizens if necessary, with emergency travel documents and flights available for those in urgent need. Roseline Kathure Njogu, in charge of diaspora affairs, reported that 1,500 Kenyans have already registered for evacuation.
Ethiopian officials are also preparing contingency plans, though many Ethiopian workers were already struggling before the current conflict due to Lebanon’s economic collapse in 2020.
As foreign embassies work on evacuation plans, many workers feel abandoned and left to fend for themselves, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive support in these dire circumstances.
