Take the seat: DFAT frustrated by Aussies turning down escape from Lebanon

More than 1100 Australians fleeing Lebanon have arrived home but the Government is growing increasingly frustrated with people who say they want to leave the war-torn country turning down offered seats on flights.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong warned the Government would not be able to continue putting on repatriation flights indefinitely.

Israel is stepping up its attacks on Lebanon, aimed at routing out Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah and overnight sent fresh troops into the country.

The Australian Government has been warning people not to travel to Lebanon for nearly a year and has said in recent weeks that people there should leave immediately.

There are 3665 Australians and their family members in Lebanon who have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as wanting to flee the country.

All of those who were eligible for flights and ready to depart had been offered seats by the end of Tuesday, a government spokesperson said.

But take-up has been dropping, with three in 10 seats across all flights going empty.

People have been telling DFAT they want to leave on a different date than what was on offer, they want to travel with family who haven’t got their paperwork sorted, they have moved to northern Lebanon instead of leaving the country, or they want to stay to finalise business or family matters.

Senator Wong warned that the flights were subject to ongoing demand as well as the security situation.

“Obviously, we will not be able to continue these flights indefinitely,” she said.

“So my message to Australians who remain in Lebanon and who wish to leave is, again: do not wait. Now is the time to go. Please take the first flight option offered to you.”

More than 1600 people have been helped by the Government to leave Lebanon so far, and 1117 of them have now returned to Australia.

More flights from Cyprus to Australia are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, operated for free by Qantas and Qatar Airways.