1st group of Lebanon evacuees arrive in Beirut from Ukraine

BEIRUT

The first group of Lebanese nationals evacuated from Ukraine arrived in the capital Beirut on Wednesday, according to local media.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) said 40 students were among the evacuees. The broadcaster, however, did not specify how many Lebanese had been evacuated.

“Another plane carrying Lebanese evacuees will arrive in Beirut within 48 hours,” Maj. Gen. Mohamed Kheir, head of the Higher Relief Committee, told the news agency.

He said 960 citizens had registered their names with the Lebanese Embassy in Kyiv to return to Lebanon.

There are around 4,000 Lebanese nationals in Ukraine, including 1,000 students, according to unofficial figures published by local media.

Since Russia launched its war on Ukraine last Thursday, it has resulted in at least 136 civilians being killed, including 13 children, according to UN estimates. Around 400 others have been injured, including 26 children.

The nationwide assault has led to nearly 680,000 people fleeing Ukraine for neighboring countries, according to the international body.

Russia intensified its aerial and artillery bombardment this week, particularly on the capital Kyiv and Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv.

Kharkiv, near the Russian border, is home to some 1.5 million people, while the population of Kyiv is nearly 3 million.

*Writing by Bassel Barakat