Evacuation and Humanitrian Efforts in Lebanon

1. Evacuation and Humanitrian Efforts in Lebanon Unclassified

2. General • Due to the fighting in Lebanon, the I.D.F. has implemented a policy concerning the evacuation of foreign nationals from Lebanese territory. • Furthermore, a policy has been created coordinating the humanitarian relief efforts in Lebanon. • All requests to either vacate foreign nationals from Lebanon or to supply Lebanon with humanitarian aid should be coordinated with the I.D.F. via the Strategic Planning and International Cooperation Division (SPINC Division). • The Centre for the Coordination of Evacuation and Humanitarian Relief has been created in the SPINC Division HQ to handle the different requests. • The centre is manned at all times by officers and NCO’s from the SPINC division, IDI and MFA representatives.

3. The I.D.F. will enable the evacuation of foreign nationals and the supply of humanitarian aid to Lebanon via land, sea and air: • Land: • The IDF’s most recommended route for evacuation is the coastal road from Beirut via Tripoli leading to the Al-Arida border crossing with Syria. • This route is not targeted by the Israeli Air Force and thus is the only advisable route out of Lebanon. • All other routes out of Lebanon – east to Syria are NOT recommended and cannot be coordinated with the IDF.

4. Sea: • Passage through the Israeli Naval blockade can be coordinated. The Port of Beirut is the preferred point of exit. • Special passage may be arranged for docking at the Ports of Tyre, Naqura, Sydon or Tripoli. • Air: • Airway passage of helicopters may be coordinated, for which a “safety box” has been created around the Port of Beirut. • The IDF recommends the landing zone of the Port of Beirut, and the Police School of Beirut. • The Beirut Airport is NOT available for aircraft landings.

5. Humanitarian Aid • As an act of goodwill, the government of Israel has agreed to coordinate the introduction of humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Lebanon. • The two international organisations conducting the relief efforts are UNSCO and the ICRC. • Countries desiring to assist in the humanitarian relief efforts should contact those organisations.

7. Overall: 170 Vessels from 17 countries. 121 flights from 3 countries. 90 land convoys from 31 countries.

8. Structure of the Centre for the Coordination of Evacuation and Humanitarian Relief Foreign Element Centre for the Coordination of Evacuation and Humanitarian Relief Ops. Room: SPINC Division MFA IDI Humanitarian Cell Evacuation Cell Liaison Officer-UNSCO Northern CO Ops. Div. Navy Air Force IDI

9. Principles of Action • Nations conducting the evacuation will bear full responsibility for the evacuation operations. Israel will not be responsible in any way for the evacuation operations or for security measures that may be required to conduct them. • The evacuating nations should be aware that they will be operating in active combat zones and should take appropriate and necessary precautions. • The coordination with the I.D.F. is solely for the purpose of imposing the maritime and the aerial blockade and to avoid accidents. • The evacuating forces should refrain from any acts that may be interpreted as hostile.

10. Principles of Action - continued • The evacuation forces should stay clear from buildings and locations associated with the Hizbollah and should refrain from any contact or assistance to Hizbollah and its members. Any such assistance may put the evacuating forces in danger and may cause the evacuation operations to come to a halt. • Prior coordination with the Lebanese authorities may be necessary. The evacuating nations are responsible for any such coordination, if necessary. • The execution of any evacuation operation is subject to a real-time assessment of the situation. Israel shall do the utmost to promptly inform the evacuating nations of any developments that may hamper or delay evacuation operations.