Several countries are now bringing their citizens home from Lebanon. One of the larger evacuations is being carried out by Australia, which is flying out 500 citizens and permanent residents with two chartered planes from Lebanon's capital Beirut.
The first group of people has landed on Cyprus and will fly on to Sydney this week, reports Australian abc.net.
It's very painful and very disturbing. I'm heartbroken over what's happening in Lebanon, says Nowell Gemayel, one of the first evacuees, to the channel.
An alternative evacuation plan is being prepared in case the airport in Beirut is forced to close, announces Minister Catherine King.
On Saturday, South Korea received a group of 97 people who were flown out with a military plane, following instructions from the president. South Korea is also evacuating citizens from other conflict zones such as Israel and Iran, according to AP.
EU countries such as Germany and Spain are also continuing to bring their citizens home from Lebanon. France has begun an evacuation in several stages, writes Euronews.
Over 300 Turkish and other foreign citizens have been evacuated by ship from the Lebanese port city of Tripoli, and have arrived in Mersin in southern Turkey.
Sweden is not evacuating its citizens from Lebanon, but they are being urged to leave the country on their own, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has announced.
