Evacuated Americans Arrive In Cyprus

July 20, 2006 — -- This morning 40 U.S. Marines onboard the USS Nashville arrived just a couple of miles off the coast of Lebanon. This is the first U.S. Navy ship to move U.S. citizens out of Lebanon. It is also the first time marines have touched down in the country since Hezbollah blew up a marine barrack in 1983.

When describing the assisted departure of thousands of U.S. citizens in Lebanon, Brigadier Gen. Carl Jensen, commander of Task Force 59, said there was much that still needs to be done, and that this operation cannot move fast enough. He also said it was a coordinated effort involving Navy and Marine personnel and U.S. Embassy staff on the ground.

According to Jensen, around 3,000 U.S. citizens will arrive throughout the day in Cyprus. By Friday, he said, "we will have moved in excess of 6,000 U.S. citizens." The remaining U.S. citizens want to stay in Lebanon. But as the violence continues this is sure to change.

Yesterday at 1 a.m. local time, the first U.S. chartered commercial ferry docked in Larnaca's seaport. As the luxury liner arrived people on the top deck waved and gave the thumbs up signal, relieved to be 125 miles away from the fighting and bombardment in Lebanon. Families and people needing medical treatment were taken off the boat first.

An older man was carried out looking drained and dazed. Medical personnel handed him bottles of water after the eight-hour journey. Another woman with a bandaged arm was taken off in a stretcher. A medical center has been set up in Larnaca for the evacuees.

It took the passengers an hour to leave the liner one by one. They looked haggard but relieved. Some were more than eager to share their tales. One girl said she wasn't scared and didn't even want to leave Beirut. Her mother, who is living in Boston, was concerned about her safety and wanted her out, so she left. The girl said the journey was "great fun," and the U.S. Embassy in Beirut was organized and orderly. Another woman thought the whole journey was "very chaotic."

Eight year old Ali recounted his experiences. He said he was scared. He could hear jets and bombs the whole time. Sporting a cheeky grin, Ali said he missed Beirut but was glad to be out. He is on his way home to Michigan.

So what do they do once they arrive in Cyprus? The military said it wants to keep them on the ground for as little time as possible. A tent city has been set up in a fairground here where people can get food, water and cots. The United States has chartered flights to Baltimore to get the Americans back home.

The assisted departure continues. Today, 3,000 citizens are expected to arrive in Cyprus.