James Reed
THE Royal Navy began the mass sea evacuation of Britons from Lebanon last night as the trickle of foreign nationals fleeing the region turned into a flood.
Destroyer HMS Gloucester docked in the Lebanese capital Beirut and took on board 180 British nationals before setting sail for Cyprus and was expected to arrive early today.
The Government said it was difficult to estimate how many of the 22,000 Britons registered in Lebanon would want to leave but 5,000 were expected to be evacuated by the end of the week.
The seventh day of hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters based in Lebanon led foreign governments to step up efforts at moving their citizens to safety.
Cyprus risked being overwhelmed as hundreds of Britons, Americans, French and Scandinavians were moved by helicopter and sea to the small island nation with more due to follow.
A Swedish chartered vessel picked up 1,000 people from Beirut while a French-chartered ship had already taken 700 people to Cyprus.
Britons waiting to board HMS Gloucester last night spoke of how they had been caught up in the bombing raids by Israeli aircraft.
Tourist Samantha Bradley, from the West Midlands, said: "When we were leaving Beirut three nights ago for the hills, a bomb went off when we were leaving and it smashed the car.
"When we were still in the house, and they were bombing near to the house, (the children) were frightened by the noise. It was really, really scary."
The British Government last night promised the pace of the evacuation would be stepped up as four more naval vessels joined the two already in the region.
Prime Minister Tony Blair told the Commons: "We are working as hard and as quickly as we can to ensure that we are able to evacuate all those who wish to leave."
The captain of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, which is due tomorrow morning, said the warship could carry 2,000 evacuees comfortably and more than 6,000 "in a real emergency".
By last night RAF Chinook helicopters had taken out 79 Britons and were being prepared to carry more to Cyprus. The helicopters may ferry evacuees to the waiting aircraft carrier.
British Red Cross workers arrived in Cyprus as part of a Foreign Office team to help support evacuated British nationals.
One of the team Stephen Spurling, from Wakefield, said: "As a result of the nature of the conflict, many people are experiencing trauma and we will be here to provide emotional care for anyone who is finding it difficult to cope."
Accommodation is in short supply in Cyprus, which is currently in the middle of its holiday season, and it is planned rescued Britons will be flown out quickly.
Families in southern Lebanon also fled north, driving with improvised white flags flying from
their windows to dissuade Israeli pilots from attacking them.
The United Nations is evacuating all non-essential staff from Beirut.
james.reed@ypn.co.uk