Inspection of civil defence shelters
Cyprus’ Interior Minister, Konstantinos Ioannou, announced results of recent inspections of 2,480 civil defence shelters, noting that 194 were unsuitable or no longer exist and 288 remain private. These spaces are being removed from the SafeCY application, while others require relocation of objects and cleaning to be ready for public use. The Ministry is coordinating with property owners to prepare the shelters.
Shift to public shelters for broader coverage
Minister Ioannou highlighted that the previous policy, in place since 1999, relied heavily on private spaces and had significant weaknesses. New efforts focus on larger public spaces such as municipal car parks, church basements, hotel underground areas, and office buildings. This strategy has increased population coverage from 30% to approximately 45%.
Urban planning incentive to increase shelters
The Cabinet approved a planning incentive allowing developers to use an additional 5% floor area in underground spaces for civil defence shelters. This applies to both new and existing developments, covering residential, commercial, office, and mixed-use projects. Spaces must include potable water and sanitary facilities. Minister Ioannou said the measure is expected to increase the number of shelters and improve public safety.
Temporary National Coordinator appointed
The Cabinet also approved the “Civil Protection and Related Matters Law of 2026,” establishing a National Civil Protection Mechanism and the role of the National Coordinator. Pending the law’s passage, Fire Service Chief Nikos Logginos was appointed temporary coordinator for wildfire management, overseeing all agencies during emergencies.
SafeCY alerts for citizen safety
A new functionality in the SafeCY app was presented, enabling targeted notifications to citizens’ smartphones during security or emergency incidents. Unlike SMS alerts, the app uses location-based alerts to inform those near the event. While it does not cover citizens without smartphones or who haven’t installed the app, it provides additional timely warnings to a large number of residents.
Government commitment to population safety
Minister Ioannou emphasised the government’s commitment to address shelter deficiencies and implement the Early Warning System. These measures are part of a strategic plan to modernise civil defence into a comprehensive civil protection framework, improving resilience and emergency response for all citizens.
Also read: Nikos Logginos appointed National Civil Protection Coordinator
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