Cyprus has become a hub for evacuations from the Middle East, with military aircraft from 10 nations now stationed on the island as regional tensions escalate.

Aircraft from the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and other countries are on standby to evacuate citizens from Lebanon and Israel. Some repatriation flights have already taken place recently.

Cypriot authorities have activated their “Estria” humanitarian aid plan and are prepared to accommodate up to 5,000 foreign nationals. A separate contingency measure, the “Nafkratis” Special National Plan, stands ready in case of a potential refugee crisis from Lebanon.

The escalating situation has heightened the significance of Thursday’s Mediterranean EU member states (MED9) summit in Paphos. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Jordan’s King Abdullah will join leaders from Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Spain and Portugal.

Under Cyprus’s emergency protocols, any refugees arriving would be processed at the First Reception Centre in Purnara, with provisions for additional camps if needed.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has criticised some of Israel’s aerial bombardments in Lebanon, stating they violated international humanitarian la