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BEIRUT: Several developing countries are waiting for additional aid before they can begin evacuating citizens from Lebanon, while Western governments are losing patience with citizens who cannot decide whether to stay or evacuate.

“There is much thought and concern being given to Western foreigners, to the plight of internally displaced people in Lebanon, but really not anything about these migrants from poor countries who are in extremely difficult situations, far from home and family, without papers and money, and for some, shelter and food,” International Organization for Migration spokesperson Jemini Pandya wrote in an e-mail to The Daily Star.

Moreover, as evacuees leave Lebanon, Cyprus is starting to feel the pressure. Cyprus complained Friday it felt “left alone” by the international community over the unprecedented evacuation of foreign nationals from Lebanon to the tiny holiday island.

Since the sealift began in earnest on Monday, some 20,000 foreign nationals have come through Cyprus, the majority of whom have now left for home, putting massive pressure on facilities at the peak of the summer tourist season.

“Up until now Cyprus has been basically left alone and unassisted in its effort to help so many thousands of people,” government spokesman Christodoulos Pashardes said.

“This astonishingly large number is already challenging our acknowledged success so far,” he added, “and testing our infrastructure and the ability of Cyprus to effectively respond to this serious humanitarian problem.”

Cyprus has called for the immediate intervention of other countries, especially from the EU, to help it handle the thousands of people from poorer countries who need to be swiftly repatriated.

On Thursday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) helped organize a bus convoy for 120 Sri Lankan nationals, many of whom were in Lebanon working as domestic help. On Friday another 154 Sri Lankans boarded buses destined for Damascus.

Sri Lanka says it has 5,000 migrants who have asked to be evacuated out of an estimated population of 90,000 in Lebanon. The IOM has been asked by the Philippine government to help 2,000 Filipino migrants in need of evacuation assistance. Ghana, which has no diplomatic presence in Lebanon, lists some 500 nationals in Beirut and an unknown number of citizens in Tripoli.

Other countries who are relying on IOM help for their evacuations are Thailand, Bangladesh, Moldova, Russia, Iraq and Vietnam. The IOM hopes to help all nations and appealed to wealthier nations Friday for $12 million which would be used to help evacuate 10,000 people.

The Sudanese government reported that there were about 4,500 Sudanese residents in Lebanon. 2,000 have already been bused to Syria, although there are reports some have found themselves trapped in the no-man’s land between the Syrian border and Lebanon without proper papers allowing them into Syria.

“The embassy is trying to help with papers. All Sudanese, whether legally or illegally in Lebanon, are being helped,” said the Sudanese ambassador’s secretary.

Nepal’s government is arranging a boat for its citizens for Monday with the Indian government. Some 4,000 Nepalese are in Lebanon, 90 percent of whom were working as housemaids. The boat will take an unspecified number of Nepalese and Indian citizens to Cyprus.

Mexico evacuated 24 citizens and their foreign relatives Friday in partnership with the Greek government. Some 128 Mexicans have already been evacuated on Greek boats.

Javier Gongora, head of the Cultural and Commercial Section of the Mexican Embassy, promised that Mexican evacuation operations will continue as long as necessary.

“Even if there is a small number who want to leave, we will arrange something,” Gongora promised in an interview with The Daily Star.

Other nations are no longer as patient and are growing frustrated as citizens register for evacuations and then waver about the actual decision. Some foreign nationals are waiting to see if the conditions around Beirut will worsen before deciding to board a boat.

“We have boats for tomorrow and Sunday. Beyond that, we are not sure. People should make up their minds as quickly as possible,” Australian Ambassador Lyndall Sachs told The Daily Star. Sachs oversaw Australia’s evacuation at Beirut Port Friday, which sent 750 citizens to Cyprus.

While many nations hope to finish evacuations from Beirut in the near future, governments are having a harder time reaching their nationals trapped in the South of the country.

The German Foreign Ministry on Friday said it has evacuated 4,200 Germans from Lebanon since the Israeli offensive began but was struggling to reach those in the South of the country.

Germany has only managed to evacuate 600 people from South Lebanon.

“The priority now is to evacuate those trapped in difficult conditions in the South,” Ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger told The Daily Star. “We are greatly concerned about them”.

EDITOR’S NOTE > Article by Iman Azzi Copyright The Daily Star, Lebanon. All rights reserved.