Nicosia: A total of 53 Cypriot citizens were evacuated from Iran and Israel, with most returning to Cyprus, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The evacuation efforts were part of the country’s response to ongoing regional tensions.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the “ESTIA” national plan facilitated the evacuation process. France completed its scheduled evacuation flights for the week, with seven flights departing from Israel, carrying 395 nationals from third countries. This brought the total number of assisted individuals under the “ESTIA” plan to 608. Additionally, 296 third-country nationals utilized special commercial flights for repatriation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that over 3,000 citizens were temporarily stationed in Cyprus due to diverted flights. These passengers awaited further travel to reach their final destinations.
The ESTIA National Action Plan, managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, is activated during
emergencies or crises. It ensures the safe evacuation of civilians from crisis zones in the Middle East region through Cyprus. The plan is also applicable in situations involving natural disasters that necessitate the evacuation of EU and third-country citizens via Cyprus.