Audit Office reports critical failures in Cyprus civil defence shelter system

A March 2026 Audit Office report has identified significant failures in Cyprus's civil defence shelter management, citing outdated data, inaccuracies in the SafeCY app, and conflicting official guidance. Inspectors found that the shelter registry contained 194 defunct sites and 288 misclassified private spaces, noting that the program had been largely dismantled in 2013 to accelerate property licensing. The Ministry of Interior acknowledged these gaps, stating that a reform process began in 2023 to shift focus from private basements to high-capacity public venues such as parking garages, supermarkets, and hotels. Minister Constantinos Ioannou stated that this shift has increased population coverage from 30% to 45%. The Ministry further confirmed that the SafeCY app, which failed to provide accurate navigation or site details during testing in March 2026, is currently undergoing improvements in collaboration with the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy and the KIOS Research Center. Despite these ongoing efforts, discrepancies remain between central registry records and the practical information provided to citizens.