Cyprus has repatriated more than 500 citizens from high‑risk areas in the past 24 hours, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said Thursday, as the government continues emergency evacuation operations.
Kombos told reporters at the Presidential Palace that a flight from the United Arab Emirates carrying 162 passengers landed earlier in the evening, followed by another with 144 passengers. He said the total number of people brought back in the past day has reached 512, including 488 from the UAE.
Two additional flights are planned for Friday, with a possible third on Saturday if needed, he said.
The minister urged continued cooperation from Cypriots in affected regions, noting that some individuals remain registered on the government platform despite having already departed or deciding not to travel. He said this complicates planning and prevents others from securing seats on return flights.
Kombos said the crisis‑management center is operating around the clock and handling thousands of calls, with frequent last‑minute changes requiring rapid communication with the public. He praised ministry staff for their work, saying few European countries have achieved comparable results in such a short period.
He added that while the priority remains citizens in dangerous areas, the government is also assisting others stranded abroad due to flight cancellations, though those cases do not involve immediate security risks.
Asked about the United Kingdom’s updated travel advisory, which warns of potential terrorist attacks in Cyprus, Kombos said the change does not raise the existing threat level. He said the addition reflects a broader UK policy concerning risks to British nationals and interests in regions affected by the current crisis.
He noted that the update follows the recent attack on the British Bases in Cyprus and appears to be a precautionary measure.
