Nicosia: Efforts to repatriate 55 Cypriot citizens, including 50 from Israel and 5 from Iran, are ongoing, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Theodoros Gotsis. Gotsis informed the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that three patient escorts from Israel have already crossed into Jordan with plans to return to Cyprus on a foreign aircraft.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the current situation in Israel includes 12 patients along with their 11 escorts, 12 Cypriot nationals who are permanent residents, and 15 Cypriot citizens who were in Israel for business or tourism when the recent attacks began, all of whom have requested repatriation. Gotsis highlighted that air transfers from Israel are currently not feasible, though two patients were successfully transported to Cyprus over the weekend. Initially, 58 Cypriots had requested repatriation from Israel.
Regarding the situation in Iran, Gotsis mentioned that developments concerning the five Cypriot citizens seeking repatriation could occur within the day.
Gotsis also noted that under the “Estia” coordination mechanism, Slovakia and Portugal have sought assistance, although the specific number of citizens involved remains unknown.