The Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation Coordination Cell (NEOCC) for evacuations from Libya, based in the British High Commission in Malta, has ceased operations.

The High Commission said in a statement that the majority of the British military personnel who have been supporting its work have departed Malta, with the few remaining personnel due to leave in the coming days.

“During the last two weeks we have coordinated the evacuation from Libya of around 4,500 people of 78 different nationalities, including Maltese, with departures from over a dozen locations within Libya” Lieutenant-Colonel Craig Sutherland, UK Liaison Officer on the NEOCC said.

“This has required an immense logistical and organisational effort from everybody involved.

“However, the nations involved in the NEOCC have agreed that the present phase of military-assisted evacuations has now ended. Anyone in Libya who wishes to leave should now do so by commercial means.”

British High Commissioner Louise Stanton thanked all involved in the operation for their support, professionalism and dedication.

She said that the High Commission and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office would continue to provide assistance to British nationals in Libya who wished to leave.

Representatives of 16 countries, including Malta, and a a member of the EU military planning staff participated in the NEOCC. A British military team provided the NEOCC with logistical, communications and planning support.

Passage on the various air and sea journeys coordinated by the NEOCC was not restricted to nationals of the participating countries, with Thais, Filipinos, South Africans and several Latin Americans among the 78 nationalities evacuated.

Sources said that RAF planes based in Luqa for the past few days are expected to return home.