On Board the TCG Sancaktar: A Journey of Escape and Hope
In the midst of escalating conflict in the Middle East, Eyup Sabri Kirgiz, a 50-year-old Turkish engineer, found himself at a crossroads. After two harrowing weeks of relentless airstrikes in Beirut, he gathered his loved ones—his Lebanese wife, two children, and mother-in-law—and made the difficult decision to leave their home behind. The family, along with their beloved pets, boarded the TCG Sancaktar, a Turkish navy ship, as part of a mass evacuation operation aimed at rescuing those caught in the crossfire of a war that has claimed thousands of lives.
The Context of Conflict
The backdrop to Kirgiz’s departure is a year marked by violence and instability. The conflict escalated dramatically on October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel, a response to the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel the day prior. Since then, the region has been engulfed in a cycle of retaliatory strikes, with over 1,400 people killed in Lebanon alone and more than a million displaced. The Ein Rummaneh neighborhood, where Kirgiz lived, is situated close to Dahiyeh, an area that has faced intense bombardment, making the decision to leave not just a choice, but a necessity.
Life Under Siege
Kirgiz described the harrowing experience of living under constant threat. “For the last two weeks or so, we had been feeling all those bombs as if they were exploding in the house,” he recounted. The psychological toll was immense; sleep became a luxury as the sound of drones filled the night sky, a haunting reminder of the danger that loomed. “You can only sleep when the drones go away. It is impossible to sleep with that drone sound anyway,” he shared, illustrating the trauma that many families in the region are enduring.
The Evacuation Journey
On a Thursday marked by uncertainty, Kirgiz and hundreds of others boarded the TCG Sancaktar, one of two Turkish navy vessels involved in the evacuation. The atmosphere on board was a mix of anxiety and relief, as nearly 1,000 evacuees—mostly Turkish citizens and their foreign-born spouses—settled into makeshift accommodations, surrounded by the few belongings they could carry. Aid workers distributed sandwiches and refreshments during the 12-hour journey to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Mersin, a small comfort amid the chaos.
Among the evacuees was a 75-year-old passenger who suffered a heart attack during the voyage and was airlifted to northern Cyprus, where he later died. Such incidents underscored the urgency and peril of the situation, as families clung to hope while grappling with the reality of their circumstances.
Personal Stories of Loss and Hope
Kirgiz, who affectionately calls himself “the lover of Beirut,” expressed a deep desire to return to his city once the situation stabilizes. “I’ll see what the situation is like in a week or 10 days. I’ll wait for things to calm down a bit,” he said, revealing a profound connection to the place he has called home for over two decades.
Others on board shared similar sentiments. Dilber Taleb and her Lebanese-born husband, Ahmad, were visiting family when the conflict escalated. Despite their neighborhood being relatively safe, the couple felt the weight of anxiety and stress, prompting their decision to leave. Ahmad’s heartache was palpable as he spoke of leaving his parents behind, wishing for a future where they could reunite in a safer environment.
A Family’s Escape from Fear
The Udigwe family, who had recently moved to Lebanon from Nigeria, also faced the grim reality of the conflict. Goncagul Udigwe expressed her fears that Lebanon could become “another Gaza,” a sentiment echoed by many who have witnessed the devastation of war. As they disembarked in Mersin, relief washed over them. “Right now I am extremely happy that we are reunited (with Turkiye) safe and sound. I am in my own land, I feel safe, I feel at peace,” she said, reflecting the mixed emotions of those who have escaped but remain concerned for those left behind.
Arrival and Aftermath
The TCG Sancaktar and its sister ship, the TCG Bayraktar, arrived in Turkey late Thursday and early Friday, where exhausted passengers were bused to immigration checks. The two ships were part of a larger convoy carrying humanitarian aid to Lebanon, including food, tents, and blankets, highlighting the ongoing need for support in the region.
As the evacuees stepped onto Turkish soil, they carried with them not just their belongings, but the weight of their experiences—trauma, loss, and a flicker of hope for a future free from fear. The journey aboard the TCG Sancaktar was not just an escape; it was a testament to the resilience of families caught in the turmoil of war, each with their own story of survival and a longing for peace.