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What are nations doing to get nationals out of Lebanon?

Western countries are ramping up contingency plans to evacuate residents from Lebanon after a. sharp escalation in the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese. armed movement Hezbollah, paired with Iran's rocket attack on. Israel on Tuesday.

No nation has launched a large-scale military evacuation. yet, though some are chartering airplane as Beirut airport stays. open. Strategies to evacuate to Cyprus by sea will enable movement of. larger groups.

Here are details on contingency preparation:

AUSTRALIA

Its contingency strategies could include evacuation by sea,. though authorities have actually prompted an estimated 15,000 people in. Lebanon to leave while Beirut airport stays open.

BELGIUM

Belgium's foreign ministry has actually encouraged people to leave as. quickly as possible, the Belga news firm stated.

CHINA

More than 200 Chinese residents have actually been securely evacuated by. the federal government, China's main Xinhua news company said.

CANADA

Report from Canada recommend it will co-operate with. Australia in leaving nationals by sea. The strategy includes. contracting an industrial vessel to ferry out 1,000 people a day,. the Toronto Star paper stated.

CYPRUS

The European Union member state closest to the Middle East. is a most likely center for evacuations, having processed about 60,000. people leaving the Hezbollah-Israel war in 2006. Neighbouring. Turkey has actually offered centers as well.

Cyprus has asked Greece to offer an aircraft that might be. utilized to evacuate its nationals who wish to leave. There are an. approximated 1,500 Cypriots in Lebanon.

FRANCE

France has not issued an evacuation order, regardless of having. had plans for numerous months. Present contingency plans centre. on Cyprus and Beirut airport, while it is likewise going over. evacuations through Turkey. France has a warship in the region,. while a French helicopter provider will arrive in the eastern. Mediterranean in the coming days and take up position in case a. decision is required to evacuate foreign nationals from Lebanon.

GERMANY

Germany has evacuated non-essential staff, families of. embassy workers and German nationals who are medically. susceptible from Lebanon and will support others attempting to leave,. the foreign and defence ministries said in a joint statement on. Monday.

GREECE

The Greek foreign ministry has actually advised its citizens to leave. Lebanon and avoid any travel there, with a frigate on standby in. case support is required.

ITALY

Italy has cut diplomatic staff and boosted security. personnel at its Beirut embassy. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. has actually consistently urged nationals to leave the country and sought. guarantees from Israel over the safety of Italian peacekeepers. in the area.

THE NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands will repatriate its citizens from Lebanon,. Dutch news firm ANP stated on Tuesday.

POLAND

Poland will limit staff numbers at its Beirut embassy, a. foreign ministry representative said on Tuesday, including that. Warsaw would arrange transportation for citizens wishing to leave. Lebanon.

PORTUGAL

Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has encouraged against travel to. Lebanon, which helped in the evacuation of a small number of. Portuguese citizens living there.

SPAIN. Spain plans to send 2 military airplane to leave as many. as 350 residents from Lebanon as early as Thursday.

TURKEY

Turkey is prepared for a possible evacuation of Turks from. Lebanon by means of air and sea, and is dealing with about 20 countries. for a possible evacuation of foreign nationals by means of Turkey. About. 14,000 Turkish people were signed up at the consulate in. Lebanon, however the number was not definitive.

UNITED KINGDOM

Britain has advised nationals to leave right away. It has. moved about 700 troops to Cyprus, bolstering its armed force. properties, including 2 Royal Navy ships. It likewise has two military. bases on the island. Britain has chartered a flight to help satisfy. any extra need from Britons wanting to leave on. Wednesday, and will fly them directly back to London.

UNITED STATES

The United States has ordered dozens of soldiers released to. Cyprus to help prepare for circumstances such as an evacuation of. Americans from Lebanon. It is dealing with airlines to add. flights out of Lebanon, with more seats for Americans, the State. Department said on Tuesday.

(source: Reuters)