World continues to evacuate from Lebanon

BEIRUT: South Korea and China became the most recent countries to evacuate citizens from Lebanon according to statements released by the country’s respective foreign ministries on Saturday.

A KC-330 aircraft, a South Korean military transport, evacuated nearly 100 citizens from Lebanon. The evacuation was ordered on Wednesday by President Yoon Suk Yeol, with the families landing at a military airfield on the south of Seoul on Saturday. 39 military personnel and a backup C130J transport plane were also sent to aid in the evacuation. Some South Korean diplomats remained in the country, according to the Yonhap news agency.

The foreign ministry stated that the government will take further actions to ensure the safety of its citizens.

China’s foreign ministry also stated on Saturday that over 200 of its citizens were evacuated.

“These people, who have been evacuated in two batches, include three Hong Kong residents and one Taiwan compatriot,” said the ministry, adding that “the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon remains firm in Lebanon and continues to assist Chinese citizens remaining there in taking security measures.”

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On Friday, the Polish Foreign Ministry stated on X, formerly known as Twitter, that a plane carrying several dozens of citizens landed in Warsaw.

Germany continued its evacuation efforts, with their foreign ministry stating that another 219 nationals flew out of Lebanon on Friday, stating that it will continue to support others attempting to leave.

Japan sent two C-2 military transport aircrafts on Thursday and are standing by for the evacuation of citizens. There are roughly 50 Japanese citizens in the country.

Special flight left Beirut on Thursday with families of Russian diplomats according to the country’s emergencies minister. The TASS news agency reported that about 3000 Russians and citizens of the commonwealth of independent states want to leave.

The United States, which has roughly 86000 nationals residing in the country, is working with airlines to add flights out of Lebanon according to a statement released by the state department on Tuesday. The US Embassy also communicated a level 4 travel advisory, the highest that can be issued, stating “This is the highest advisory level due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks.”

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Similarly, the United Kingdom chartered a limited number of flights for its citizens to leave Lebanon, with 150 British nationals leaving the country on Wednesday.

Both the US and UK have deployed troops to Cyprus to prepare for emergency evacuation scenarios.

Australia, which has roughly 15000 citizens in Lebanon, organised hundreds of airline seats for nationals to leave the country, as well as sending military aircrafts to Cyprus in case of emergency.

The Toronto Star newspaper stated that Canada is working with Australia to evacuate nationals by sea, in a plan which involves contracted a commercial vessel to evacuate a 1000 people per day. There are about 45,000 Canadian nationals in Lebanon.

Roughly 14000 Turkish citizens are registered at their consulate in Lebanon, and the country’s foreign ministry stated on Tuesday that it was ready for the evacuation of its citizens from via both air and sea.

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Two flights will evacuate Dutch citizens on Friday and Saturday, according to the Netherlands’ defence ministry.

Romania also evacuated 69 citizens on Thursday in a military aircraft according to its foreign ministry.

Spain is planning to send two military aircrafts to evacuate up top 350 citizens from Lebanon.

A slew of other countries advised their citizens to leave as soon as possible, including Belgium, Denmark, Italy, and Portugal.