Data | What are Western countries doing to remove their citizens from Lebanon?
The escalation in Lebanon, where the war that Israel is waging against Hezbollah has intensified in recent weeks, has forced Western countries to design evacuation plans for their citizens. These are some of them:
Francewhich has been urging its citizens not to travel to Lebanon, has had evacuation plans in place for several months, but stopped short of issuing an evacuation order. Current contingency plans focus on Cyprus and Beirut airport, while evacuations through Türkiye are also being discussed. France has a warship in the region and a helicopter carrier in the southern French city of Toulon, which would take several days to travel to the area.
Germany has evacuated non-essential personnel, the families of embassy workers and citizens who are in a situation of medical vulnerability from Lebanon and will support those who try to leave, according to a joint statement from the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense published this Monday. Germans in the region can leave the country on commercial flights through airports that remain open, as recalled by a spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry.
Greece has asked its citizens to leave Lebanon and also avoid any travel to the country. A frigate is on standby in case assistance is needed.
The United Kingdom It has also requested its citizens to leave the country immediately. It has transferred some 700 soldiers to Cyprus, strengthening its presence in the area where it already has military assets, including two
ships of the Royal Navy. It also has two military bases on the island.
Italy has reduced unnecessary diplomatic staff and reinforced
security personnel at its embassy in Beirut, as reported by Reuters. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has asked Israel for guarantees on the safety of Italian soldiers operating in peacekeeping work in the area.
USA has ordered the deployment of dozens of troops to Cyprus
to help prepare for possible scenarios, including an evacuation of Americans from Lebanon.
Australia has drawn up contingency plans that provide for evacuation by sea, although it has urged some 15,000 of its citizens in Lebanon to leave the country while Beirut airport remains open.
Canada. Reports from the North American country suggest that it will cooperate with Australia in the evacuation of nationals by sea. The plan involves hiring a commercial ship to transport 1,000 people every day, according to reports The Toronto Star.
(Reuters)
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