At least 20 fleeing Kiwis reach Cyprus in British and UN ships

At least 20 more New Zealanders have safely fled Lebanon on board a United Nations chartered ferry and a Royal Navy ship as the Government increased the urgency of its appeal for those still in the embattled region to leave.

The UN ferry, the Serenade, and the Navy ship docked in Cyprus late yesterday afternoon (NZ time) with about 20 New Zealanders on board, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Spokeswoman Helen Tunnah said the figure was a conservative estimate, and a more definite one would be known once the estimated 1500 evacuees clear immigration in Cyprus.

Additional New Zealanders might be on board other vessels taking evacuees to safety, she said.

Ministry staff and the honorary consul in Cyprus were on hand to help New Zealanders find accommodation and arrange onward travel.

Those on board the Serenade included the family of a New Zealand Defence Force officer, Squadron Leader Andrew Greig, and the sister of a newlywed Auckland restaurateur still in Beirut.

Squadron Leader Greig's wife, Bronwyn Wood, and their two sons, aged 6 and 4, boarded the Serenade in the southern Lebanon city of Tyre at 9pm Thursday (NZ time).

The family, from Wellington, were dangerously close to the action and had shrapnel smash through their apartment window on Sunday after a neighbouring building was hit by a missile.

Squadron Leader Greig and seven other Defence Force personnel, meanwhile, remain in the Middle East.

Joint forces commander Rear Admiral Jack Steer said all eight had reported in safe and well. "We continue to monitor the situation of our personnel in the region as they continue their work with the UN."

Restaurateur Fadi Bouchaaya was waiting anxiously to hear from his sister Nawal yesterday.

She, two friends and their six children were on board the Serenade, and her expected phone call will help Mr Bouchaaya to decide what to do with their party of 14, which includes their sick father, still in Beirut.

Mr Bouchaaya said that, while the shelling seemed to be taking place away from Beirut, a pressing concern was the lack of cash as banks stopped issuing money.

"We're trying to save the dollars for something more important."

His Lebanese wife, Carla, would need to leave without proper ID, and he hoped to get the green light from the British Embassy for her to travel.

Foreign Affairs officials in Wellington are contacting New Zealanders still in Lebanon to advise them of evacuation procedures. Those who want to leave, or are unsure whether to leave, are now "strongly urged" to go to the departure point in Beirut.

The ministry's advice: "We strongly recommend that you take this opportunity to leave Lebanon on the British vessels, while this option remains available."

Ms Tunnah said about 90 New Zealanders had registered to leave Lebanon. But because of the sheer numbers wanting to leave, evacuation could take several days.

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