Dialogos

Proposal to Cabinet for Increased Shelters

Published March 6, 2026, 14:04
Proposal to Cabinet for Increased Shelters

The Minister of Interior will submit a proposal to the next Cabinet meeting to increase the number of shelters across Cyprus. The proposal, which has been in development for months, aims to cover 45% of the population. According to the proposal, every new apartment building should allocate its basement as a shelter for Civil Defence, with a toilet and drinking water, receiving an additional 5% building factor as an incentive, with a maximum of 50 sq.m. Inspections of shelters are underway by approximately 90 people, following an inspection carried out in May. The political head of the Ministry of Interior has expressed dissatisfaction with the sampling nature of the inspection and is trying to improve the situation. The requisition of shelters is not considered effective in peacetime. In the event of an emergency, the public is asked not to move towards the shelters to avoid congestion on the roads, but to follow the instructions of the Ministry of Interior, which have been communicated to schools and hospitals. The public will be informed via SMS, sirens, bells, and door-to-door information. Tourists will be informed through their hotels and accommodations. The sending of messages is expected to take five minutes, while one provider that holds 10% of the market is facing technical difficulties. Prepaid card holders account for 1/4 of subscribers and will receive messages in the affected province, regardless of their province of residence.