Various ministries and institutions in Lithuania are drawing up plans for the mass evacuation of civilians in case of a military conflict, according to the Interior Ministry.
In a meeting between various ministries and institutions on Thursday, the Interior Ministry said they agreed on the division of responsibilities in preparing the plan.
Earlier this month, the Interior Ministry briefed the country's municipalities on the evacuation concept and asked them to assess their capacities and needs for its implementation within six weeks.
At the time, the Interior Ministry said it aimed for the municipalities to be prepared to relocate a quarter of the population – giving priority to people with disabilities, pregnant women, and families with young children.
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They are expected to provide information on the number of people to be evacuated, different routes, available accommodation for the internally displaced, as well as available transport means.
Bilotaitė also previously said the evacuation plan should also include international transfers, adding that contacts are being made with neighbouring countries. She also said she planned to meet with the Klaipėda Port Authority to discuss the issue.
However, the minister did not provide more details on the evacuation plan.
After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lithuania has decided to follow in the footsteps of Northern European countries in preparing separate evacuation plans for peace and wartime.
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