Up to 60 Irish still to be evacuated from Beirut

The "constantly changing nature" of the situation in Beirut will mean Irish evacuees will have to wait till just before departure…

The "constantly changing nature" of the situation in Beirut will mean Irish evacuees will have to wait till just before departure until they know their means of evacuation from the city.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs told ireland.com that a decision on the "quickest and safest" way out of the Lebanese capital would be left till the last minute. She said evacuation plans are constantly being modified.

The Department estimates that there could be between 50 and 60 people who will avail of evacuation tomorrow. The spokesperson said that it was hard to estimate how many would be evacuated as some Irish citizens there are Lebanese born and may not wish to leave their families, while, others might be cut off from the evacuation point.

Evacuees have been told to gather at the Irish Honoury Consul at 7.30 am in the morning where they will find out there means of evacuation.

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Meanwhile, 81 Irish citizens touched down safely at Dublin Airport today after a dramatic 48-hour evacuation from conflict-ridden Lebanon.

As the crisis in the Middle East entered its eighth day, angry but relieved passengers on board Aer Lingus flight EI101 spoke of their joy of reaching Ireland but sadness for those they had left behind.

Child psychologist Colette Murphy brought her three daughters with her but left her husband Fergal behind.

Mrs Murphy, who has lived in Lebanon for 11 years, said: "I feel very sad for what has happened in Lebanon, we have tried to protect the kids from what was going on but they heard very loud bangs at times.

"Hopefully my husband will join us today or tomorrow on the next evacuation."

The Co Monahan native is not sure if she can return to Lebanon with her daughters Clara, eight, Shauna, five and Emily three.

Dublin engineer Gerard Moran, 39, called for EU sanctions against Israel over its bombardment of Lebanon. "It's unacceptable what is going on while the international community stands idly by.

"Israel has a special status with the EU which is very wrong when you consider what its government has approved of in recent days."

The 88 evacuees began their two-day exit on Monday when they were bussed from Beirut to Damascus and then flown by charter jet to Dubai.

All passengers thanked the Government for the speed and professionalism in which they officials carried out the evacuation.

Up to 50 other Irish passport-holders are waiting to leave Lebanon in coming days.

Additional reporting PA