Cyprus at ‘peak level’ of preparation for Lebanon evacuations
The foreign ministry on Wednesday said it was at its highest level of preparedness as the death toll in the region continues to climb amid an onslaught of violence between Israel and Hezbollah.
Britain said it was sending 700 troops to Cyprus as it anticipated mass evacuations from Lebanon.
Foreign minister spokesperson Theodoros Gotsis told the Cyprus Mail the government’s preparedness to deal with evacuations is at its highest level.
Cyprus in August announced its Estia scheme which deals with evacuations was activated. Authorities have since been ready to aid with any evacuations from the Middle East and assist with repatriating foreign nationals through Cyprus.
Nonetheless, Gotsis specified there have been no requests so far, nor does the government expect there to be.
It is understood that many of those who would have left the region have long left as the situation has been unstable for a year now, though it has escalated in Lebanon in the past few weeks.
Fierce fighting this week between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah has increased fears that nearly a year of conflict will explode and destabilise the Middle East, where a war between Hamas and Israel is already raging in Gaza.
Gotsis underlined this situation is different from the 2006 war in Lebanon, which caught everyone by surprise.
There are still flights from Beirut which individuals can use to leave Lebanon. Evacuations will be activated should any other corridors no longer be available, Gotsis underlined.
Britain’s Defence Secretary John Healey said “events in the past hours and days have demonstrated how volatile this situation is, which is why our message is clear, British nationals should leave now.”
The UK has two Royal Navy ships, aircraft and transport helicopters in Cyprus at the moment, with the latest 700 troops