Some 350 people working for the United Nations in Egypt will be evacuated to Cyprus because of security concerns in the country, a spokesman for the U.N. peacekeeping mission on the Mediterranean island said Thursday.
Rolando Gomez said two U.N. chartered aircraft will each conduct two round-trip flights from Cyprus's Larnaca airport to Cairo on Thursday to collect staff and their family.
"The staff will be temporarily relocated due to the security situation in Egypt," Gomez told the Associated Press.
Gomez said arrangements have been made to accommodate up to 600 staff and dependants at Cyprus hotels.
Gomez initially said that U.N. staff would also be evacuated to Dubai, but later said it has now been decided to fly them all to Cyprus.
It's not yet clear how long the staff will remain on the island or whether they will leave for other destinations, he said.
The first flight to Larnaca — some 360 miles (580 kilometers) from Cairo — was due to arrive at 1100 GMT, but has been delayed by an hour, Gomez said.
Gomez said some U.N. staff will remain in Egypt to continue carrying out "essential functions."
___
AP correspondents
RELATED TOPIC - How Obama Is Approaching The Egyptian Crisis
- Mubarak Says He'll Go but Not Just Yet: What Now?
- Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule
- Why Egypt's Military May Be Central to Mubarak's Exit Plan
- International reaction to Egypt crisis
- Airport chaos eases while violence flares in Cairo
- Egyptian army moves between rival camps in Cairo
- Mubarak supporters attack Cairo protesters
- Clinton calls Suleiman, urges probe of violence
- WikiLeaks cable shows three Qataris in September 11 plot
- US actress Barbara Billingsley dies at 94
- Barbara Billingsley, Beaver Cleaver's TV mom, dies...
- Iran says ready for nuclear talks if agenda clear
- Iran's Khamenei calls for Iraqi government formati...
- Iran arrests six Afghan military officers, soldier...
- U.S. says Iran has a role in Afghan talks
- France seeks to calm fuel fears as strike momentum...
- US reopens more Gulf of Mexico fishing waters
- US oil spill hit a key tuna spawning site: agency
- Afghan talks include Iran, aim for 'stability'
- Super typhoon lashes Philippines, kills at least 3...
- Coyotes, not hunters, proposed for Valley Forge
- Bridges built to help Borneo orangutans meet mates...
- Benin floods kill 43, leave nearly 100,000 homeles...
- Rep: Celine Dion hospitalized as precaution
- JetBlue says traffic, capacity rose in September
- Hounded in Europe, Roma in the U.S. Keep a Low Pro...
- Drunk Driving: Is the U.S. Blood Alcohol Limit Too...
- China VP promoted in move seen as leadership sign
- Report: Facebook apps transmitted personal info
- Afghanistan: Stepping Around IEDs with U.S. Soldie...
- Cracking the Facebook Code
- The Tea Party's New Queen
- Court will hear appeal of ex-AG to stop lawsuit
- Citigroup profit tops expectations
- Donations helping schools fill in gaps
- Testimony to resume in Fort Hood suspect's hearing...
4807
0 comments:
Post a Comment