Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
Georgio Hado
WESTERN BUREAU:
AS THE conflict in the Middle East intensifies, Kingston-based restaurateurs Nancy and Bassilios Hado remain hopeful that their five-year-old son Georgio will remain safe and return to the comfort of their home within another two weeks.
Georgio, a Jamaican, departed Jamaica for Beirut, Lebanon, three weeks ago with his grandparents Maria and George, who are Lebanese nationals who live in Jamaica.
After 12 days in the war-torn country, Mr. Hado says efforts to get the British Government to offer his son safe passage have proved extremely challenging. "The British say they have to evacuate their people first." He said by the time they get to his son it may be too late.
The youngster has been moved to the mountainous area of Lebanon and is being housed by family members. Next Tuesday, he is expected to go by road to Amman, Jordon, where he spends a week before flying back to Jamaica via London, England, on British Airways.
Mr. Hado said he opted not to send his son to Cyprus, even though the trip to Amman may be dangerous. "Israel is hitting
anything in sight, so anything can happen on the road. It's a big chance, but we have no other choice."
Yesterday, reports were that Israeli forces had seized the Lebanon border, taking over a village and engaging Hezbollah militants by land, air and sea.
He noted that now the Lebanese army has joined forces with the militant group Hezbol-lah, he is sure the situation will worsen by early next week.
Concerned about the response of the Jam-aican Government, Mr. Hado said if he had to wait on them (Government) or the Jamaican Honorary Consul, his son would remain stuck in Lebanon.
"My family in Lebanon has been calling the Jamaican Honorary Consul, and there has been no response. They went to his office, and nobody was there, and he doesn't answer his cellular number."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed late last week that four Jamaicans are in that country. Leila Younis, wife of Kingston businessman Sameer Younis, is one of the four.
