Air Malta's mercy flights to help in the evacuation of workers from the Libyan-Tunisian border kick off today when the first flight departs Malta for Djerba in Tunisia.
Air Malta is to operate up to six flights, paid for by the government, as part of a multi-national humanitarian effort. The Air Malta flights are expected to carry some 800 workers.
However, informed sources said that while the original plan was for the flights to carry Egyptian workers from Tunisia to Alexandria, some of the flights will actually ferry Ghanian workers to Accra in Ghana.
MANY EGYPTIANS HAVE LEFT TUNISIA
The number of Egyptians awaiting transport has fallen considerably.
A French warship sent to evacuate nearly a thousand Egyptian refugees fleeing Libya arrived today at Tunisia's Zarzis port only to find they had already left, a naval officer said.
The hi-tech Mistral helicopter-carrier had left Saturday from the southern port of Toulon to repatriate Egyptians who had crossed into Tunisia from Libya and take them to the Egyptian port of Alexandria.
Soon after the ship dropped anchor however, spokesman for the French navy Lieutenant Thierry Delorme announced that it would "not be taking" refugees and would be leaving in the same day.
Most of the Egyptians had already left by plane, impatient to reach their homeland in just three hours as opposed to a boat ride that would take them three days, he added.
US military planes repatriated 640 Egyptians over the weekend, as part of an international effort to deliver refugees from unrest in Libya
European countries and the United States on Thursday began airlifting more than 40,000 Egyptians who had fled Libya for Tunisia, to avoid chaos and epidemics spreading at makeshift camps on the border.
The French ship was equipped with 28 doctors as well as 69 beds, according to chief doctor Loic Lemesle. It was also loaded with medical supplies, food and water to help the United Nations refugee agency and the Red Crescent.
UNITED NATIONS APPEAL
Earlier today, the United Nations called for $160 million to cover the needs of those who have fled Libya as well as others who remained trapped in Libya.
The appeal is expected to cover relief support including shelter, food, transportation, water and sanitation for up to one million people for the next three months.
"This appeal is based on planning scenario projecting up to 400,000 people leaving Libya -- including the 200,000 who have left to date -- and another 600,000 people inside Libya expected to need humanitarian aid to varying degrees," said Valerie Amos, UN aid chief.
"I hope that this appeal receives a favourable response from donors, which will enable us to continue to support those in need," added the United Nations under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.
The appeal will be revised in two weeks, said the UN.
Tens of thousands of mostly migrant workers have been streaming out to bordering countries, including Tunisia and Egypt, in a bid to escape violence in Libya.
An estimated 100,000 mainly foreign migrants have arrived in Tunisia alone since February 20. Thousands remain in temporary camps facing growing problems of hygiene.
Aid agencies are also increasingly concerned about the situation of people who are trapped in Libya, where battle is ongoing between supporters of strongman Muammar Gaddafi and rebels.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon managed Sunday to persuade Gaddafi's foreign minister to allow in a humanitarian assessment team to Tripoli.
Former Jordanian foreign minister Abdelilah Al-Khatib will undertake "urgent consultations" with Gaddafi's government and work on the humanitarian crisis it has caused, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
It is not immediately known where the team would be allowed to visit in Tripoli and whether they would be taken to other cities.