Lithuania, Poland discuss population evacuation plan

Lithuania and Poland are developing an international population evacuation plan that could be used, if necessary, to evacuate some residents of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia across the border.

Vilmantas Vitkauskas, director of Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre, said Lithuanian and Polish officials are currently assessing procedures, logistics and infrastructure capacity, while the plan itself is to be prepared after the two countries reach an agreement, Caliber.Az reports, citing Lithuanian media.

“We also have an international aspect to evacuation: what happens if it becomes necessary to evacuate a certain number of residents of Lithuania, as well as neighbouring Latvia and Estonia, across the border. In such situations, when there is a threat of war that gradually approaches in the scenario of the exercise, the border regime usually changes. Border controls are introduced to ensure mobilisation and prevent people holding certain important positions from leaving the country, so that they remain here and perform their duties,” Vitkauskas told reporters at the government building.

According to him, a large flow of evacuees could accumulate near the border in such a situation, making it necessary to assess in advance with Polish colleagues how such a situation could be managed.

“That is why the participation of our Polish colleagues is very important, and we are extremely grateful to them for joining us and showing great interest. Poland’s participation takes us to another level,” he added.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov