On Wednesday July 26, 2006, the Government of Canada will be undertaking an evacuation of Canadians citizens in Southern Lebanon. A ship, which can carry up to 1000 passengers, has been chartered by the Government of Canada and is expected to arrive in the port of Tyre between 9am and 10am local time. Canadian citizens and their dependants currently in the Tyre area and wishing to leave Lebanon should go directly to the port of Tyre (Sür) on Wednesday morning, July 26, and should not wait for further communication from the Embassy of Canada in Beirut. We recommend that you be at the port at least one hour before the ship's arrival. Please share this information with all Canadian citizens you may know, to ensure that all Canadians currently in the Tyre area are aware of this opportunity to leave.

You will only be allowed one piece of carry-on luggage per person. Any additional luggage will have to be left behind in Tyre. Pets will not be allowed. Please ensure that you have adequate amounts of any required medication (sufficient for a minimum of 72 hrs). Canadians and their dependants should gather their passports and other important documents. Canadians who possess expired Canadian travel documents will be issued emergency passports.

The Embassy of Canada in Beirut has contacted, and will continue to contact, thousands of Canadian citizens to be evacuated over the coming days. All registered Canadians will be contacted and given instructions for departure from Beirut. The Government of Canada has chartered vessels for this evacuation. The first ship departed Beirut for Cyprus on Wednesday July 19, 2006. Canadian officials have met, and will continue to meet, the evacuees in Cyprus and Turkey to facilitate their onward travel to Canada. Six ships departed Beirut on Thursday July 20, and went to Turkey (Mersin). Three ships left Beirut en route to Cyprus and Turkey on Friday July 21. Two ships left for Cyprus on Saturday July 22. On Sunday July 23, five ships have left for Cyprus and for Turkey. On Monday July 24, two more ships will be sent to Beirut. The Government of Canada will continue to send ships to Lebanon until all Canadians who wish to leave Lebanon are evacuated.

Only a limited number of people can be evacuated each day due to port congestion and security measures. We urge Canadians to be patient and wait for the Embassy’s call. We urge Canadians to carefully follow instructions given by the Embassy and go to the assembly point only on the date and time specified by the Embassy. Priority is given to the elderly, sick, injured and children. The Embassy is currently making arrangements for those who have been contacted. PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE EMBASSY.
You will only be allowed one piece of carry-on luggage per person, weighing no more than 20 kg each. Pets will not be allowed. Please ensure that you have adequate amounts of any required medication (sufficient for a minimum of 72 hrs).

Canadians should register with the Embassy on-line. If you know a Canadian citizen who is not registered, please pass this message to him/her and ask him/her to register immediately.

Canadians and their dependants should gather their passports and other important documents. Canadians who possess expired Canadian travel documents will be issued emergency passports.

You must arrive at the point of embarkation at least 4 hours prior to departure time. The Canadian Embassy will provide you with all necessary details when they contact you directly.

There have been reports of individuals posing as Canadian government officials and fraudulently charging transportation fees to the embarkation port. All costs related to the evacuation of Canadian citizens from Lebanon will be borne by the Government of Canada. Canadians are responsible to make their own way to the assembly point.

For more information about the situation in Lebanon, please visit the Foreign Affairs website at the link below.

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