There are around 57,000 foreign citizens waiting to leave Beirut
as the fighting shows no signs of easing, but the mass evacuation plans have
only started to kick in over the last day or so. And with Lebanon’s
airport out of action, just about every nation trying to get its citizens out
of the war-torn country is experiencing problems. Most of the thousands of
weary and distraught foreigners leaving the country are being taken initially
to Cyprus by
ship. The sleepy port of Larnaca,
where the occasional cargo ship usually anchors once a week, is now bustling with
military and commercial ships. Meanwhile, thousands of Lebanese and foreigners
continue to attempt the risky overland journey to Syria,
the only other way out of the country at present.

And even though many people, including Kevin Rudd,
have been under the impression that Australia is the largest single
foreign presence, apart from American Lebanese, in Lebanon today,
countries like the Phillippines and Sri Lanka, with their huge numbers
of migrant
workers, far outnumber us. They also have to contend with
the problem of keeping track of citizens who don’t have the means or
even the
documents needed to leave.

Country No. of citizens in Lebanon No. of citizens evacuated Method of evacuation
Australia

25,000

 315 – including 105 priority cases evacuated by the UK. At least 5,000 want to be evacuated.

Australia
has bussed nationals out via Syria.
Others have left on Greek and British ships and helicopters. Canberra had hoped to ferry another
300 Australians to Cyprus
on Wednesday but reports suggest the chartered Turkish ship had been
double-booked.
Britain

22,000, about 10,000 with dual nationality.

The first 180 evacuees arrived in Cyprus
on Wednesday morning.

Sent two warships to Beirut,
and three more warships are en route to Lebanon, with about 5,000 set to leave over the coming days.
United States 25,000

1,000 US
nationals from Beirut to Cyprus
on Wednesday.

It’s estimated 5,000 to 10,000 will opt to be evacuated.

 From Beirut to Cyprus
under the protection of the destroyer USS Gonzalez. In addition, six CH-53
helicopters are evacuating citizens with special needs to Cyprus.
They will aim to air-lift out 300 people per day. A US Navy task force is due to arrive off Lebanon, with
the transport ship USS Nashville capable of ferrying up to 1,000
evacuees per day.
France 20,000

About 800 evacuees from Cyprus
on Tuesday, and a further 850 were set to leave for Cyprus.

Ferry, plusseveral
more French vessels were bound for Beirut.
Canada up to 45,000 2,000 due to be picked up today

Seven vessels have been chartered, which will sail from Beirut
to Cyprus and Turkey.
Canadian
Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived at Larnaca airport in Cyprus early today in his
military Airbus A310 to pick up 120 evacuees.

Phillippines 34,000 Phillippines officials were exploring options, no evacuations so far. Officials considering chartering ships, but said lack of
funds and planning was hampering efforts.

Have requested
assistance from the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) in getting their
migrant workers out of the country. Some don’t have the means or even the
documents needed to leave.

India 12,000 100 have left for Syria, with plans to evacuate 1,000 more by ship over the next few days India is sending four warships.
Sri Lanka 90,000 No evacuations so far

The government in Colombo
is making evacuation plans. Has requested IOM assistance.
Bangladesh at least 10,000 No evacuations so far

The government in Dhaka is seeking
help to move those who want to leave. Has requested IOM assistance.
Denmark 3,900 1,700

Another 1,200 are awaiting charter flights from Damascus.

Sweden 5,000 1,488 Swedish expatriates have been driven
to Syria, most to Aleppo in chartered buses. On Wednesday, Swedes arrived
in the Turkish port of Mersin. A further 1,500 were due to leave Beirut by ship for Cyprus.
Spain 500 300 A chartered plane took Spaniards from Damascus to Madrid late on Tuesday, and another 152 arrived back after
reaching Amman.
Italy 1,000 500

By bus to Syria
on Saturday. Most have been flown to Cyprus.
An Italian warship has also moved several hundred from Beirut.
Poland 700 200

By bus to Damascus, then by plane to Poland.
Germany up to 3,000 700 Evacuated in hired buses to Damascus, before flying to Germany in a fleet of military planes.
Greece – at least 398 by boat Ship left Beirut port on Wednesday carrying Greek
nationals as well as hundreds of EU citizens. Greece has also chartered a plane.
Austria 220 100 Evacuated by bus to Syria, then flights out of Damascus
Morocco several dozen nationals – Evacuated by road to Syria, then C130 transport planes.
Brazil – 50

Evacuated to Turkey,
while officials were planning further missions to move more than 150 nationals
who have reached Syria
and Jordan.
Latin America – –

Latin American nations are pooling resources: Venezuela, Colombia
and Uruguay
were taking about 400 nationals into Syria
on Wednesday.
Russia 1500 1230

Russia is ready to co-operate with European nations to help
its nationals leave Lebanon. So far nationals have headed to Damascus
before flying to Moscow.

Figures have been collated using estimates from the most recent
reports and may vary slightly. We’ve left blanks where there’s no
information available so far.

Sources: BBC, Bloomberg.com,
CNN, Forbes, Globe And Mail, goGREECE.com, Haaretz, Jerusalem Post, news.com.au,
Radio Polonia, Reuters.