BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 26 (UPI) -- New Zealand is evacuating its nationals from Lebanon aboard Australian-chartered flights to Cyprus.
Seventy-eight have so far left the country, according to New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Newstalk ZB reported on July 25 that of the evacuated New Zealanders, a number are leaving Cyprus for other locales, while some intend to stay on the island.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said nine more New Zealanders still want to be evacuated from Lebanon, while a further 30 still in the country are ambivalent about their travel plans.
Australia is also evacuating its nationals from Beirut. About 250 have been evacuated from Lebanon by sea to Turkey's southern port of Mersin on the "Su Jet" ferry. They will fly back to Australia from the southern Turkish city of Adana.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has established a crisis desk to cope with the flood of refugees arriving from Lebanon.
Since July 18, 2,400 foreigners have arrived in Mersin from Lebanon.
