Foreign nations gear up efforts to get citizens out

Many evacuees designated "foreigners" have dual nationality.

Israel has agreed with Western attaches for a large exodus of evacuees today, involving 20 vessels. Seven left on Wednesday and two on Tuesday.

The United Nations and its agencies are pulling non-essential staff and family members. Relief workers are staying and more are going in.

Canada: 40,000 citizens

Government has still not removed any of its citizens. Prime Minister Stephen Harper yesterday was "hopeful" an evacuation would begin "in earnest very quickly". The Toronto Star quoted Harper as saying Canada was not a large country and lacked transport to move large numbers quickly.

Philippines: 30,000

Government preparing to evacuate thousands of workers, mostly domestic helpers, by sea to Cyprus or by road to Syria. Advising those at risk to relocate to church about 8km north of Beirut, where 200 Filipinos had sought shelter.

Australia: 25,000

Government has evacuated 186 nationals to Syria. Officials hoping to charter ship to evacuate up to 600 more today. Officials yesterday told citizens they were trying to organise ships "over the next few days". Some Australians may be able to leave on ships organised by allies as well as on ferries Government looking to secure.

United States: 25,000

About 1000 citizens boarding Orient Queen cruise ship overnight for Cyprus. About 320 left by helicopter and ship yesterday. Nine US military ships to evacuate more than 2400 today, the first big group of up to 8000 the Pentagon expects to bring out. The ships include a helicopter carrier and dock landing ship manned by Marines.

Britain: 22,000

Conintgent includes about 10,000 people with dual nationality. Destroyer HMS Gloucester took 180 priority evacuees to British military bases on Cyprus. Six ships to start moving citizens, with around 5000 to be evacuated in next two days. HMS York off Lebanon coast, to be joined by HMS St Albans, supply ship HMS Bulwark and aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious.

France: 20,000

About 8000 French citizens trying to flee Lebanon. Greek cruise ship sent by France evacuated more than 800 citizens and more than 100 other Europeans and Americans to Cyprus on Tuesday. The sickest and weakest being flown to Paris with medical assistance. French Defence Ministry sending 800 military personnel, transport ship, frigate, transport planes and helicopters. French Health Ministry and Red Cross providing medical teams for French and other European evacuees in Lebanon, Cyprus and at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Other Nations:

Norwegian ferry picked up Americans, Swedes, Norwegians and others and dropped them in Cyprus. Greek Navy frigate arrived in Cyprus yesterday, carrying 400 Europeans. Spanish Air Force flew 113 people out of Syria, with 152 others transported from Jordan. Russia sent aircraft to pick up citizens and nationals from neighbouring former Soviet states. Denmark, Poland and Bulgaria hired buses to ferry nationals and Czechs and Slovaks to Damascus. German evacuees were flown from Damascus to Duesseldorf in joint operation between airline LTU and German Foreign Ministry.

- AGENCIES