Frustration and relief for UK evacuees

Britons speak of relief

"Speaking to the people at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office today, I said, 'What's the actual plan'? How am I going to get to the port?'

"And what happens when I get to Cyprus? Where am I going to go from there?

"No-one has got any information whatsoever and it's just like living in a dark cell. I feel like I'm in prison sometimes actually."

The words of Jolie Boyle, a DJ from Essex, typify the upset and frustration felt by many Britons trapped in under fire Lebanon since the attacks by Israel began a week ago.

But earlier on Wednesday morning, about 180 of Ms Boyle's fellow Britons were experiencing the opposite emotion - relief.

Shared fear

The first British sea evacuees, mainly parents and their children, arrived in Limassol, Cyprus, having sailed through the night on Royal Navy destroyer HMS Gloucester from Beirut Port.

Some 180 passengers were on board the HMS Gloucester

Rabi El Fadel, from London, was waiting in Cyprus for the ship, on which his son Hussein, 12, was being transported to safety.

Of the moment he saw his son step off the ship, Mr Fadel told BBC News: "It was great - such a relief to be honest with you, to see him.

"I can't explain, I can't express myself.

"I think I share with him the same fear that people are behind as well, still. But at least we took him out."

Hussein said he had initially enjoyed the journey.

"Well, the first eight hours were quite good but then the last two hours I just got sea sick."

He described the scenes he had left behind in Beirut as "exciting and frightening".

"The loudest bomb was probably one of the first ones and it just makes you jump and your heart stops," he said.

"I feel sort of disappointed in myself. I mean how can I leave all my family there and me just get evacuated?"

Traumatic time

British forces in Cyprus spokesman, Capt Crispin Coates, who greeted the passengers of HMS Gloucester, said they had seemed in "remarkably good spirits".

"Everybody who's been brought ashore so far seems to be extremely relieved to be back in Cyprus," he told BBC News on Wednesday morning.

"Many of them have had a fairly traumatic 24 to 48 hours.

"However all of them seem to be extremely tired but happy at the same time."

I'm exhausted but I'm very glad to be out Elise Mazegi

Among those who fitted into that category was Elise Mazegi, from Brighton, who was evacuated with her three-year-old son and five-month-old triplets.

"I'm exhausted but I'm very glad to be out," she said.

Mrs Mazegi, who was had been visiting her sister in Lebanon, added: "The trip was long but it was okay; the babies slept most of the time.

"The crew on the ship were amazing and they really helped me out a lot.

"I'm looking forward to going back to Brighton - I just want to go home."

'Sad relief'

Those about to board the second evacuation ship - HMS York set off from Beirut Port on Wednesday afternoon - said they felt as though they were the lucky ones.

Just before he boarded HMS York, one man, of Lebanese origin, told BBC News he was feeling "sad relief".

"It's sad that in such a nice country, actually, that all these things keep happening.

"It's unfortunate that every few years we've got these things happening.

"I just hope that they will find a solution once and forever."

I'm very, very happy, really happy. I can't believe I'm getting on today Jolie Boyle

That feeling of relief, tinged with sadness at those who cannot leave Lebanon, was a common experience among those evacuated on Wednesday - the first day of evacuations by sea of Britons from Lebanon.

Relief, too, came - eventually - to Ms Boyle, the Essex DJ.

Speaking later on Wednesday, after managing to get a place on board the HMS York's afternoon sail, she said: "I'm very, very happy, really happy - I can't believe I'm getting on today.

"The Foreign Office told me that I shouldn't come today, I should go in the morning.

"But I don't take any notice of what people say, so, yeah, I'm happy."