Maryland Emergency Management to coordinate incoming evacuees at BWI from Mid East violence | 07.20.2006 | 05:39:45 | Views: 5017 | ID: July 20 '06: State and local emergency management officials have set up operations at the Baltimore Washington International Airport to help the incoming evacuees from Lebanon proceed through repatriation and processing services the Baltimore Sun reported Thursday. As the violence in the Middle East intensifies, Israeli and Hezbolline forces continue to launch rocket attacks at each other causing thousands of people to flee Lebanon. On Thursday, US marines were sent into Beirut to help evacuate the more than 8,000 of the total 25,000 Americans in the country. NBC 4 News in Washington DC reported that Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich said state and federal officials at BWI are expecting more than 800 passengers to fly into the US Thursday. The first flight arrived at 7 a.m. Thursday morning. The Sun quoted Ehrlich about the level of services that will be provided to evacuees. "It runs the gamut from nothing to a lot, depending on the individuals. ... These folks have had a very quick disruption in their lives. They are coming with nothing. They need help." The NBC affiliate in Baltimore reported that medical services will be provided according to Jeff Welch from the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. Also, the USO "was expected to open its lounge at the airport to evacuees." The Washington Times found that a total of eight flights chartered by the State Department and, "each carrying about 160 people from Cyprus, is scheduled to land" at BWI. "Evacuees will be guided through US Customs to a help center, where state officials will have computers and phones available for them to communicate with family and friends." Housing and some money will also be provided to evacuees who need the further assistance the Wash Times was told by John W. Droneburg, the director of Maryland's Emergency Management Agency. At least 306 people have been in Lebanon since the fighting began nine days ago, the Associated Press reported. Israeli officials also have said a full-scale invasion is not out of the question. Meanwhile in Israel, 29 people have died from rocket attacks launched by Hezbollah. At least 500,000 people have been displaced by the violence, the United Nations announced.
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