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Poland prepares medical-priority flight amid Middle East tensions

04.03.2026 12:28
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said a medical-priority flight is expected to land in Oman within hours to evacuate seriously ill Polish citizens. He added that if space allows, healthy citizens in need could also be evacuated.
An aircraft prepares to land in RAF Akrotiri, a British sovereign base in Cyprus that was hit by a drone early on Monday, causing limited damage, March 3, 2026.
An aircraft prepares to land in RAF Akrotiri, a British sovereign base in Cyprus that was hit by a drone early on Monday, causing limited damage, March 3, 2026.Photo: REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou (cropped)

The prime minister emphasized that groups are still traveling to the region despite risks. “Quite large groups continue to choose to travel to threatened countries. If you don’t have to go, don’t fly,” he urged.

Tusk noted that evacuations from Israel and Jordan are largely complete, with hundreds of Poles transported overland to Egypt, where airports remain open.

He added that around 100 flights are planned from the United Arab Emirates in the coming days, and authorities are working to ensure as many as possible reach Warsaw.

For context, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed that Polish military personnel are providing support in the countries where they are stationed, including Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon under UN missions.

Over 400 soldiers operate under the highest security protocols. Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that military support for evacuations would be provided if needed, but transport operations will only proceed once takeoff and landing conditions are considered safe. “We want to avoid a situation where our aircraft reach the destination but cannot return,” he said.

(tf)

Source: onet.pl, PAP