WHILE NO countries have been short on thanks to Cyprus for its participation in the mass evacuation effort of nationals out of Lebanon, there has been only a limited response until now to Cyprus’ plea for additional planes and to the opening of other countries’ borders to refugees.
Barely 200 kilometres by sea from Lebanon, Cyprus has become the central hub for the evacuation effort, with both Limassol and Larnaca ports daily admitting thousands of people seeking to flee embattled Lebanon.
The Cyprus government last week requested other EU countries to open their borders to evacuees from Lebanon, as well as to send aircraft to Cyprus so that their nationals can immediately depart upon arrival.
“Given our limited capabilities, we have exceeded ourselves,” said President Tassos Papadopoulos. “We are on Europe’s borders. This is not a Cypriot problem but a European one, so we are expecting a response.”
Finland yesterday responded positively to the request, announcing that it will contribute 200,000 euros for a transport operation.
Turkey has also offered to serve as a transit point for evacuees, which has helped to lighten the load on Cyprus.
Yesterday morning 1,080 Australians, 480 Canadians and 232 Swedes docked in the southern port of Mersin, while a ferryboat carrying 1,200 Turkish citizens was also expected.
According to statements yesterday by the governor of Mersin, over 3,000 foreign nationals have arrived at the port since July 19. The governor said that 1,541 Canadians, 499 Swedes, 706 Australians, 37 Americans, three Russians, two Germans, two Frenchmen and 244 citizens of other countries have already departed to their home countries via Mersin.
But with cues at the airports recently spilling out of the airport doors, Cyprus has still not received the response it hoped for.
“The aid from EU member-states is not yet what we have expected it to be,” said Communications and Works Minister Harris Thrassou, who characterised the situation as “extremely difficult”, especially at Larnaca airport.
EU Environment Commissioner Stravros Demas is set to travel to Cyprus tomorrow as part of a team of EU specialists to assess the situation and help coordinate the evacuation effort.
Acting DIKO leader Nicos Kleanthous said that, excepting Finland, which resides over the EU Presidency, no other EU country has responded to its request for support from its member states. Cleanthous made no reference to Turkey’s opening of its borders to evacuees.
French Defence Minister Alliot-Marie arrived in Cyprus on Sunday bringing a message from French President Jacques Chirac to Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos expressing his gratitude the Cyprus government and people for their assistance in evacuating EU citizens out of Lebanon.
