29 more Irish evacuated from Beirut

A SECOND convoy of Irish evacuees was bused out of Lebanon yesterday as aid workers announced a diversion of funds to help any humanitarian disaster.

Following the return of around 80 Irish people, including children, who arrived in Dublin on Wednesday, another 29 left Beirut yesterday morning.

It was expected 50 Irish passport holders would be leaving, but the smaller group gathered at the Irish consulate in the Lebanese capital before driving north by armed guard.

The evacuees then crossed into Syria and began heading south to Damascus on the bus. The group will stay in the Syrian capital before 23 of them are scheduled to fly out on Saturday morning on two different flights, due to limited seats available.

Six of the evacuees will separately join family and friends in Damascus.

The British Airways flights will make stops in London before flying onto Dublin on Saturday afternoon.

A Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said yesterday: “Some decided to stay on in Lebanon and others went another route.” Meanwhile, some of the Irish who safely stepped back onto home soil earlier this week are planning to hold protests next week against the actions of Israel.

Ciaran O’Neill, an Aer Rianta worker who evacuated from Beirut, said: “We are going to march to the Israeli embassy. But we don’t want this to be a political thing. We are expecting old or former soldiers who served there to come along as well.

“We all know that in eight to nine weeks, both sides will get tired of killing each other and will sit down and talk. We want them to sit down now.”

The march will be fronted by Lebanese families and friends of Lebanon.

It is scheduled to leave Dame Street at 1pm.

Meanwhile, the Irish Red Cross released details of its aid operations for Lebanon. It will send €50,000 from its own funds to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, a statement said.

“The money will be spent on emergency food parcels for people who have fled their homes or who are cut off from their normal food supplies due to the escalating conflict in the country,” it said.

UNICEF has also launched an appeal for €5.8 million for the coming four months to cover the needs of approximately 400,000 displaced persons.

Donations can be made online at www.unicef.ie or by calling 1850-767999. Donations to the Red Cross Lebanon Fund can be made by calling 1850 507070 or on www.redcross.ie