Cyprus is fully prepared to activate the ‘Estia’ plan for the potential evacuation of citizens from Lebanon amid rising tensions in the Middle East, confirmed Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos on Wednesday.
The minister said that all necessary arrangements have been made, including setting up temporary accommodations and coordinating with international partners.
Kombos emphasised that Cyprus’s actions are purely humanitarian, dismissing claims from the Turkish Cypriot side that challenge this notion.
He also highlighted the readiness of schools in Larnaca, which have been equipped with beds and hygiene facilities to accommodate evacuees if needed.
The Foreign Minister also confirmed that agreements are in place with countries like Canada to facilitate the evacuation of their citizens through Cyprus, a process successfully executed during similar crises in 2006 and 2023.
Minister Kombos reiterated that Cyprus can host large numbers of evacuees temporarily, referencing the successful accommodation of 60,000 people in 2006.
Regular coordination meetings between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant state agencies are ongoing to ensure the readiness of the ‘Estia’ plan.
Minister Kombos assured that Cyprus is fully prepared to implement the plan at any moment, adapting as the situation develops.
(information from CNA)
