Paphos, Cyprus. Authorities in Paphos held a district meeting on shelters and civil protection on Friday, identifying gaps in preparedness and pledging to address them immediately.
District meeting and participants
President of the Paphos district self-government organisation (EOA) Charalambos Pittokopitis chaired the meeting with representatives from the police, fire brigade, civil defence, water development department, electricity authority, Cyta, district mayors and the Union of Communities.
Preparedness weaknesses and public information
Pittokopitis said discussions highlighted weaknesses in the district’s shelter and civil protection arrangements. He said “valid and holistic information was provided on responsibilities and instructions for service personnel and residents, to avoid confusion and panic.” Pittokopitis added that the Republic of Cyprus is not part of the current crisis but that readiness remains essential.
Shelter availability in Paphos district
Civil Defence confirmed there are 210 shelters in the Paphos district, including 81 public shelters accessible to all residents, with the remainder being private or common shelters. Assistant civil protection officer Costas Constantinou said that in a real emergency, all citizens will seek protection wherever possible, regardless of the shelter’s classification.
Local officials’ positions and proposals
Paphos mayor Angelos Onisiforou pledged the municipality’s active support, saying cooperation with other services was key to ensuring proper evacuation and the protection of the people. Polis Chrysochous mayor Yiotis Papachristofi called for planning at the highest level, including measures to protect educational institutions and study public behaviour during crises. Paphos EOA representative Christiana Christodoulou proposed creating a comprehensive list of all shelters by street and parish, to be made publicly available online and through other information channels.
What information would you like to see included in a public online list of shelters in your area?