Nicosia donation centre opens

A DONATION centre to offer aid to victims of the Israeli air strikes in Lebanon opened in Nicosia yesterday under a joint effort of the Kykkos monastery and the Armenian Church.

“We are calling on the public to make any kind of contribution – small or large,“ said Nicosia Mayor Michalakis Zampelas at the official opening of the donation centre, adding that the exact types of donations requested would be announced shortly.

Kykkos Archimandrite Isaiah Kykkoti said that donation centres have been established in different parts of the government-controlled regions of Cyprus and will accept contributions until Sunday.

He added that any goods donated must have a shelf life of three to six months or longer to be allowed transport to Lebanon. The United Nations will help to deliver the materials to Lebanon. Yesterday morning 67 tonnes of humanitarian relief supplies from the Doctors of the World, Cyprus, arrived in Beirut on board the Indian naval ship INS Betwa.

The vessel had been participating in the evacuation operations of Indian nationals and other nationals from Lebanon.

A press release issued by the Indian High Commission said the ship has carried “47 pallets of about 65 tonnes of humanitarian relief supplies, including medical supplies, baby milk powder, blankets, food and other essential items for Lebanon”.

The supplies, handed over by Doctors of the World Cyprus, were carried at the request of the government of Lebanon.

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