It is good to see the waves of British visitors in Lebanon this Summer. British Airways are laying on extra flights, the Hay Festival has just been, and we have several brands – Jack Jones, Marks and Spencer, Virgin Radio, Ted Baker – opening in the coming weeks. This is exactly the relationship we want – vibrant, trading, creative interchange.
But amidst this positive progress, it remains as important as ever to be vigilant about security, given the regional situation. Our small consular team has a busy time – passport renewals, authenticating documents and registering births (a full list of our consular services is here).
Sometimes they have to deal with more dramatic events: arrests, deaths and child custody disputes. They also look after nationals of Ireland and New Zealand, and ensure that the Embassy is as ready as possible to help our nationals in a crisis.
The risks are different in different places: not all visitors realise Lebanon is in an earthquake zone, for example. We try to be as well prepared as possible for ‘known unknowns’ and ‘unknown unknowns’. All our Embassies and High Commissions worldwide have a plan for how they would handle a crisis, and we test ours regularly.
To help us prepare for the unexpected, we used to maintain and update a database of British nationals in Lebanon, called LOCATE. But the number of travellers who actually registered was a tiny percentage of the Brits actually in Lebanon. Last year, the FCO reviewed LOCATE worldwide – and found it actually hindered rather than helped our recent crisis responses in Japan and the Arab Spring.
We had teams of people calling out-of-date mobile numbers, and contacting families who had long since returned home. Those teams could have been out there, helping the people who really needed them.
So, on 14 May, the FCO closed down the LOCATE system. Brits no longer need to register their details with us. Instead, if a crisis strikes, as it could in any country, you will be able to give us your details on the spot, so we know where you are and what you need. We’ll offer a number of ways for you to get in touch, for example by telephone hotline, SMS, internet or by speaking to a team on the ground.
This will allow us to focus our attention on those who most need our assistance. My team and I will keep you updated via our website, Facebook page and Twitter, through electronic and print media. You can also subscribe to our travel advice updates – please click here and follow the instructions. Social media is an increasingly important tool for communicating with Brits, but it won’t be our only channel.
Continued engagement by Brits with the embassy is vital in making sure we are providing the best service possible. If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to call my team on 01 960 800 or by email on consular.beirut@fco.gov.uk. If you need an appointment for a counter service use our online booking system to reserve a spot.
I want to encourage people to come and see this extraordinary country, but I also want to be certain we are well placed to help them if it was ever necessary. Please stay in touch.