Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus has activated its Estia plan to facilitate evacuations from nearby crisis areas via Cyprus, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said after the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday morning.
Estia plan and government monitoring
Kombos said in a social media post that the plan is activated in the event of an emergency or crisis to allow the safe evacuation of people from nearby crisis areas in the wider Middle East region via Cyprus. He added that the government is closely monitoring the escalation in the region and is in constant communication with Cypriot embassies there.
Crisis management department on standby
Kombos said the foreign ministry’s crisis management department remains active and on standby to manage the situation depending on developments.
Travel guidance for Iran, Israel and the Palestinian territories
Late on Friday night, the foreign ministry reminded Cypriot citizens of its travel guidance for Iran, Israel and the Palestinian territories. It advised against all travel to Iran and urged Cypriots currently in Iran to depart. It also advised against all non-essential travel to Israel and the West Bank, and against all travel to Gaza.
Registration and contact details
Cypriots in Iran, Israel and the Palestinian territories were invited to register their presence on the Connect2CY online platform. The foreign ministry’s crisis management department can be contacted at (+357) 22 801000 or (+357) 22 651295 during the same hours, and outside those hours at (+357) 97 775998.
Have you registered your presence on Connect2CY if you are in Iran, Israel, or the Palestinian territories?
