First Americans evacuated from Egypt
Cairo, Egypt - The first of two charter flights transporting American citizens from the chaos in Egypt, landed in Cyprus on Monday, beginning what could be a long-evacuation amid growing unrest across the country.
At least two flights, carrying 219 Americans have been able to take off before the three Egyptian pm curfew came into force, according to the U.S. Department of State.
The first flight carrying 42 people, landed in Cyprus, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Another, carrying 177 Americans on Monday, went to Athens, Greece, but had not yet been resolved, the government said.
With at least 2,400 people seeking evacuation from Monday morning to get all Americans out of the country may take some time, "said Janice Jacobs, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for consular affairs.
U.S. flights were part of efforts to expand the governments around the world to bring people out of Egypt, where the general anti-government protests led to clashes with the demonstrators and the police, looting and other hazards.
So far, at least in Canada, Australia, Thailand, Turkey and Israel, is staged or reported the evacuation flights. Mexico has also called on citizens to consider leaving Egypt.
About 52,000 Americans are estimated to be in Egypt. Starting Monday, about 2,400 have sought help to leave the country, according to Jacobs. But she said she expects those numbers to rise as the turmoil continues.
The Foreign Ministry said that the Americans are looking for flights out of the country should make their way to Cairo international airport is HAJ Terminal 4, where officials from the U.S. government to arrange a charter for travel outside the country.
The flights will travel to Turkey, Cyprus and Greece, as the State Department.
Those evacuation research will be invited to sign documents promising to repay the government flights, said the State Department.
The exact cost has not been determined, but a State Department official said the cost should be comparable to a flight in a commercial manner of Egypt to the evacuation points. Citizens will be responsible for their own travel from there, the government said.
Jacobs said the U.S. government was not aware of any U.S. targeted or injured in the protests, but said that United States citizens, but should restrict their movements and avoid protests if no intention to leave the country.
Other countries are taking steps to evacuate its nationals as well.
Canada has advised its 6,000 citizens on holiday in Egypt and is expected to begin flying aboard the charter on Monday. Australia said it will give a flight on Wednesday.
El Al Israel sent two planes to get to the citizens of this nation back on Monday, the spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Yigal Palmor said.
Thai Airways said Monday it was preparing a special flight to Cairo to bring home stranded at the request of the Thai government in the country.