Cyprus like the EU are preparing to evacuate Europeans and foreigners from Syria (Maj)

(BRUSSELS2 to Nicosia) Cyprus not only has the rotating presidency of the European Union. But the island must also prepare for another event: an explosion in Syria which would require an airlift to evacuate Europeans and other foreigners, with the arrival of refugees as well. The memory of the precedent of 2006 is present in all minds. The Israeli offensive on Lebanon pushes foreigners to evacuate the country, in a few days, in the middle of the tourist season, the island then welcomes more than 80.000 people (mostly Americans or with dual American nationality) fleeing the country of Cedars. And Cypriot officials fear not only having to welcome residents of Syria, but also a contagion on nearby Lebanon which would double the difficulties.

200.000 people to evacuate?

« We are 120 miles from the Lebanese coast, which is only 4 to 10 hours depending on the engine of the boat explains a Cypriot officer to B2. And many people have dual nationality in this complicated Middle East. The estimate of the number of Europeans and other foreigners living in Syria today - and who could therefore be evacuated - is around 200.000 people to be evacuated and relocated, not including Syrians. For the moment, the flow arriving in Cyprus remains minimal: " some families arrived through the 'buffer zone' according to the Minister for Asylum and Immigration, Eleni Mavrou, interviewed by the press during our stay here. It is the neighboring countries (Jordan in the first place, Turkey, etc.) which are currently hosting the majority of refugees (see below).

... The Cypriots are getting ready

Ironically, the Cypriots had planned a simulation exercise in October for the evacuation of European citizens. " When we decided that, we thought that the situation in Syria was less critical, less intense than today and feared to have to organize a real evacuation rather than a simulation. explains E. Mavrou. " We expect and prepare for a massive arrival The situation in Syria will moreover be on the lunch agenda during the informal meeting of the Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of the "27", on 24 and 25 July in Nicosia. In the meantime, the Cypriots are fine-tuning their preparation. “We have a plan involving all departments. “says the Minister of Asylum and Immigration.

According to the elements collected by B2, the alert unit at the level of Foreign Affairs coordinates the efforts of all the ministries and public or semi-public structures (defense, civil protection, red cross, etc.). Stocks are in the process of being constituted as well as buildings or tents to accommodate the refugees. At the Ministry of Defense, it is estimated that the risk could materialize, more or less quickly, “ during the summer or in September ».

The European Union also...

This analysis is shared, on the European side, as B2 was able to confirm during direct discussions with the various managers involved. " It was one of the objects of my visit here. We talked about it in detail explained Catherine Ashton, the High Representative, during an impromptu conversation with B2 and another European colleague. The director of the crisis response department of the European diplomatic service (EEAS), Agostino Miozzo should also be on the island on Monday to examine concretely with his Cypriot counterparts the various means of action.

On the side of European humanitarian aid, too, we do not hide our concern. For Kristalina Georgieva, the Commissioner in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, the refugee figures in neighboring countries " are increasing rapidly over the past few weeks and days. Which is a sign worrisome ". The Commissioner recently visited Turkey " In three days, the country (along with other surrounding countries) received around 10.000 more refugees ". And despite good preparation and reception structures " very good level, 5 stars - Turkey seems to have reached the maximum of its effort. " They asked for financial support from Europe”. As for Jordan, much more discreet, it has already welcomed more than 100.000 refugees!

If necessary, the MIC - the emergency cell of the European Civil Protection, could be activated; which would then allow the European budget to support the rotations of planes necessary for the evacuation of civilians. As was the case during the crisis in Libya.

Discreet European support on site

Cyprus has for the organization a discreet but very useful European presence for liaison. Several European (or NATO) countries have a permanent military presence on the island. The most visible and important are the British forces - under the two bases of British sovereignty -. But they are not the only ones, as a Cypriot Defense official confirmed to us. The Germans thus have a logistics support unit to support their commitment within the United Nations mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL II/Unifil). France, Belgium, Italy and Canada also have logistical relays on the island, mainly at the air level, to manage their operation and the workforce in Afghanistan. Without forgetting the Turks who are not far away... Note that it is in Cyprus, for example, that the "decompression airlock" is located for many soldiers - French - particularly returning from the front...

• According to the UNHCR, the number of registered refugees (as of July 5) would now reach more than 100.000: 35.500 in Turkey, 31.000 in Jordan, 30.000 in Lebanon, and 6500 in Iraq. But this figure would be underestimated. Jordan announces that it has already counted 120.000 Syrians. The most worrying fact is the acceleration in the number of arrivals. In the first days of July, more than 3000 Syrians arrived in Jordan in this way, most of them coming from Dar'a.

Read also: the Syrian tragedy seen from Cyprus