21/07/2006

2,000 evacuees arrive in Cyprus

Around 2,000 British evacuees have arrived in Cyprus after being evacuated from Beirut.

HMS Bulwark arrived in Limassol carrying approximately 1,300 evacuees.

Passengers were visited by Foreign Office officials who inspected travel documents and to find out where people were traveling to.

Passengers slept where they could, children shared sleeping bags and the elderly were given cabins or supplied with camp beds.

700 others also arrived last night on HMS York.

People are continuing to arrive in Britain, and local authorities have prepared various council teams at Gatwick airport who will greet them when they arrive. (CD)


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