The Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation Coordination Cell (NEOCC), based in the British High Commission, ceased operations yesterday, the commission said.

The majority of the British military personnel who have been supporting its work have departed Malta, with the few remaining personnel due to leave during 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,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Craig Sutherland, UK liaison officer on the NEOCC.

“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 said: “I would like to thank all those involved in the NEOCC for the tremendous support they have provided, and for their professionalism and dedication.” She added: “The British High Commission, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, will, of course, continue to provide assistance to British nationals in Libya who wish to depart.”

In addition to representatives of 16 individual nations – including Malta – a member of the EU military planning staff also participated in the NEOCC, working principally with the governments of unrepresented member states. A British military team has provided the NEOCC with logistical, communications and planning support.

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