The foreign ministry said on Saturday it has informed all diplomatic missions in Cyprus that the ‘Estia’ plan to repatriate third country nationals has been activated and the country is ready to help if there are requests to leave the Middle East.
In their statement, the ministry said that it informed the diplomats of the plan on Friday, due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East.
According to a nobe verbale, the ministry said that all applications for the Estia plan can be made to the joint rescue coordination centre (JRCC).
On Friday night, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said that recent movement of ships and aircraft in Cyprus is part of the island’s humanitarian role in light of developments in the region.
The increased activity observed in recent days, involving the presence of ships and aircraft, “falls within the scope of Cyprus’ humanitarian responsibilities”.
“These efforts are aimed at supporting potential evacuations if necessary,” he said.
“Our hope is to avoid any escalation of the crisis, and we are working towards that goal with our international partners.”
Letymbiotis also added that preparations for the activation of the ‘Estia’ plan, which would facilitate the evacuation of third-country nationals through Cyprus, are ongoing.
“This explains the current level of activity on the island,” he said.
