Due to current safety and security concerns stemming from potentially violent public demonstrations in Lebanon, the U.S. Department of State has issued a travel alert for the country:
An excerpt of the alert reads as follows:
“The U.S. Department of State continues to urge U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon due to current safety and security concerns. U.S. citizens living and working in Lebanon should understand that they accept risks in remaining and should carefully consider those risks. This supersedes the Travel Warning issued on October 8, 2010, and updates information on security and kidnapping threats in Lebanon.
U.S. citizens traveling or resident in Lebanon despite this Travel Warning should be aware that the U.S. Embassy's ability to reach all areas of Lebanon is limited. The Embassy cannot guarantee that Embassy employees will be able to render assistance to U.S. citizens in all areas of the country.
In the event that the security climate in the country worsens, U.S. citizens will be responsible for arranging their own travel out of Lebanon. U.S. citizens with special medical or other needs should be aware of the risks of remaining given their condition, and should be prepared to seek treatment in Lebanon if they cannot arrange for travel out of the country.
U.S. citizens living or traveling in Lebanon are encouraged to enroll in the U.S. Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Lebanon. U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to update their registration information if it is no longer current.
The U.S. Embassy is located in Awkar, near Antelias, Beirut, Lebanon. Public access hours for U.S. citizens are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. However, U.S. citizens who require emergency services outside these hours may contact the embassy by telephone at any time. The telephone numbers are (961-4) 542-600, 543-600, and fax 544-209.
Information on consular services and enrollment in STEP can also be found at the U.S. Embassy Beirut website or by phone at the above telephone numbers between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday local time. Inquiries may also be sent via email.
Updated information on travel and security in Lebanon may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada or, from other countries, 1-202-501-4444.”
Visit http://travel.state.gov.