Cyprus interior minister acknowledges gaps in civil defense preparedness

Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou has admitted to systemic deficiencies in Cyprus's civil defense preparedness, citing past neglect following a recent drone incident near the Akrotiri air base. The minister acknowledged that the voluntary shelter program implemented between 1999 and 2013, which covered only 30% of the population, has proven insufficient. Recent inspections revealed significant weaknesses in these existing private-sector shelter agreements. To address these issues, the government has begun a reorganization process that started in 2023. The Ministry of Interior is now negotiating with the church, retailers, and hoteliers to utilize underground parking and basement facilities as expanded shelter space. Furthermore, Ioannou announced that a dedicated team will conduct semi-annual inspections of shelters moving forward. The government has approved a bill to create a National Civil Protection Mechanism, which the minister urged Parliament to pass immediately to improve crisis coordination. Ioannou stated that accountability for past failures will be assessed after current safety priorities are addressed.