THE EVACUATION of foreign nationals from war-torn Lebanon continues despite the ceasefire between Israeli and Hizbollah forces, which came into effect on Monday.
A total of 21 American citizens have been evacuated from Beirut by the US military over the last few days, said Department of Defence spokesman Bryan Whitman at a Pentagon press conference on Tuesday.
In total, 14,876 Americans have been evacuated from Lebanon since the conflict started on July 16. Yet while a number of US naval ships remain off of Lebanon’s coast for further evacuation efforts, Whitman said that “there are only trickles of people requesting to be departed”.
Seven US vessels, as well as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, remain committed to the operation. While the destroyers USS Cole and USS Barry are said to be available for escort duties, while the vessel Swift awaits to deliver humanitarian aid to Lebanon. The vessels USS Iwo Jima, USS Trenton, USS Whidbey Island and USS Nashville are also in the area. Whitman said that should evacuees need to be flown to Cyprus, CH-53 Sea Stallion and CH-46 Chinook helicopters are available. Approximately 6,000 American service members are committed to the operation, the Pentagon said.
Meanwhile, an estimated 25,000 Filipino citizens have opted to remain in Lebanon, now that the ceasefire has come into effect. The Philippine government is making a plea for these citizens to return home, citing the fragile situation in Lebanon despite the ceasefire. Speaking at the Philippine Presidential Palace, Malaca?ang, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said, “It is better to act on the side of caution rather than allow Filipinos to be caught in cyclical conflict”.
Last week, officials stated that 1,000 Filipinos were expected to be flown to Bahrain on chartered flights from Cyprus, yet reports say that relocation centres in Beirut are empty. Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs Under-Secretary Esteban Conejos said that officials found it difficult to fill a 450-seater plane, despite the government’s policy of mandatory evacuation.
Conejos did however state that officials and volunteers are currently taking advantage of the ceasefire to reach Filipinos possibly in need of assistance in parts of eastern Lebanon.
As foreigners move out of Lebanon, thousands of Lebanese refugees currently in Syria and Cyprus are expected to return to the country over the next few days.
With evacuees continuing to trickle out of Lebanon, humanitarian aid aimed at the nation’s displaced people begins to trickle in. The UN Security Council resolution has offered relief organisations their best chance to reach those Lebanese living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
Three hours after the ceasefire went into effect, the Chios arrived at Beirut’s port with a cargo of food, medicine and clothing. The Greek vessel had been delayed in Larnaca over the weekend, awaiting clearance to pass through Israel’s naval blockade. Before the pre-ceasefire escalation in violence, the Chios as well as the French vessel Mistral, had made several journeys to Lebanon, returning to Cyprus with evacuees each time.
While the United Nations delivers aid that had been trapped in Beirut by the fighting, US ships are on standby in case any humanitarian aid is needed.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is leading and coordinating the Red Cross and Red Crescent response movement in Lebanon and Israel, and has announced a substantial increase in its appeal for the crisis to a total of £44 million, which will be spent on providing food for 200,000 people until the end of 2006 as well as access to water for 1.2 million people.
The 13 delegates sent by the British Red Cross (BRC) to Cyprus to offer practical and emotional support to evacuated Britons have now been sent home, 2 BRC logisticians are supporting ICRC operations in Larnaca, where a logistics base has been set up in coordination with the Cyprus Red Cross.
John Cunningham is running a 6,000sq metre warehouse, while Dan Sanger is transporting relief aid between Cyprus and Lebanon.
UN aid workers transporting the aid to southern Lebanon have decided to continue to operate using sea routes citing security reasons, as well as the fact that most roads and bridges in the region have been destroyed by Israel’s aviation attacks.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is meanwhile focusing on the humanitarian needs of countries currently hosting evacuees from Lebanon. Focusing on Syria with contingency planning in Cyprus, the Federation has launched an appeal to assist 65,000 people over the next 3 months.
Two tankers arrived yesterday containing 90,000 tonnes of petrol and fuel to help ease the shortage caused by the month-long of air and sea blockade. “If these ships get in today then there should be no problem with others coming in,’ said Bahij Abu Hamze, head of Lebanon’s Association of Fuel Importers. He said, “Now it’s up to the government to push for an end to the air and sea blockade which is natural after a ceasefire.”
The tankers were formally chartered by the Lebanese government, and were stranded off of Cyprus after the ships’ captains demanded further security clearance from Israel. The first ship carried fuel oil for power stations and docked at Zouk port, north of Beirut, while the second ship carried diesel for petrol stations and docked in Tripoli.
According to Abu Hamze, 2.25 million tonnes of fuel have been coming into the Lebanese market every day since Monday. He said that a third ship, carrying 28,000 tonnes of petrol, is expected today.
Saudi Arabian Airlines has signed an agreement with Saudi Oger, planning 29 cargo flights from Jeddah and Riyadh airports to Larnaca, carrying humanitarian aid. Four flights have already landed on the island in the last few days.
Another agreement with Saudi Oger has also been made to fly special cargo planes to Larnaca from Dubai and Brussels.
