Red Cross puts out an appeal for supplies and volunteers
WITH 10,000 evacuees arriving every day at several ports in Cyprus, the Red Cross is doing everything in its power to help and accommodate all these refugees who are fleeing Lebanon for their safety.
The port seeing in the most evacuees is Larnaca, which received 5,000-6,000 people between 10pm and 4am in the past 24 hours. Most of the evacuees are taken straight from the port to Larnaca Airport to take flights to their home countries, but in many cases the refugees have no choice but to stay in Cyprus for several nights. When this is the case, schools and stadiums in Larnaca have been commandeered to provide shelter.
According to the Red Cross representative in Cyprus, Leda Koursoumba, given the hectic and sudden circumstances, Cyprus has been extremely efficient at receiving so many people.
The people, who are of many diverse nationalities – Indians, British, Chinese and French nationals among them – all arrive doubtlessly tired, stressed and afraid. Children arrive hungry and pregnant mothers and elderly people arrive fatigued and distressed.
In terms of humanitarian aid, the Red Cross offers evacuees water, coffee, juice, biscuits, and some sandwiches upon arrival after their five-hour boat ride. With the amount of people coming in, basic needs increase dramatically and the Red Cross has made an appeal to raise funds because, as Koursoumba put it, “money buys these needs”.
However, if people do want to send help in the form of supplies the things most needed are water, juice, babies’ wet-wipes and diapers and women’s sanitary napkins.
Things like soap, shampoo, medicines for things like diarrhoea, fever and painkillers are also required.
The thing most needed, though, is volunteers to help make the evacuees stay comfortable and as calm as possible.
If people would like to make a much-appreciated donation or volunteer themselves, they should contact the Red Cross in Nicosia and these donations will gladly be accepted.
More relief is being supplied by Lebanese Embassy in Cyprus and the Cyprus-Lebanon Business and Professional Association, also welcoming some basic materials like milk, diapers, canned beef and rice.
These, though, are to be sent off to Lebanon rather than to the ports here in Cyprus. In order to send goods to Lebanon, the drop-off points are, in Nicosia, Abu Faysal Restaurant, and in Limassol, at the Galatarios Showroom, Paphos Street.
To volunteer to the Red Cross or donate provisions: 22-666955,
To donate supplies to be sent to Lebanon: 22-765303/99-631851
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