The Cyprus Civil Defence’s vision is to improve and strengthen civil protection mechanisms, raise public awareness of disaster prevention and treatment, increase societal resilience and consolidate basic rules on safety and self-protection.

The Cyprus Civil Defence’s vision is to improve and strengthen civil protection mechanisms, raise public awareness for disaster prevention and consolidate basic rules on safety and self-protection.

The ultimate goal of the Cyprus Civil Defence is to create the conditions for a society ready to contribute effectively in mitigating the consequences of risks.

The Cyprus Civil Defence is at a crossroads for its transformation, having a strategic and operational role at the same time. It is called upon to improve its services and operate in a new and challenging environment in its field, as defined by the EU.

It develops Strategic Plans for two year periods, which include performance targets and indicators.

The role of Cyprus Civil Defence is becoming more essential due to the situation in the wider Mediterranean region. More specifically, in its Strategic Plan, it underlines the emergence of increased risks through the occurrence of natural and man-made disasters.

These circumstances call for it to be fully alert, with the primary objective being the undertaking of preventive and preparation measures, as well as humanitarian assistance measures for:

• Protection of population and its property
• Cultural Heritage Protection
• Critical infrastructure Protection
• Protection from dangers caused by the effects of natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, Medicanes etc.) as well as the effects of man-made disasters (technological accidents, explosions, etc.)

The conclusion reached by Natijonal Risk Assessment are that Cyprus is mainly exposed to risks such as:

• Forest Fires
• Earthquake
• Tsunami
• Sea pollution
• Sea Level Rise
• Floods
• Water shortage
• Industrial accidents
• Desertification

In case of armed clashes, Civil Defence has a series of responsibilities such as early warning and effective protection of the population (sheltering, implementation of evacuation plans, etc.)

More information on the various disasters that the Civil Defence is responsible for coping for can be found on the website http://www.besafenet.net/el-gr supported by the Council of Europe’s European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement.

Cyprus’ participation in the European Union has granted the Civil Defence with responsibilities of particular importance and renewed priority. The Cyprus Civil Defence developed a National Risk Assessment report for the first time in December 2015, in the light of the new and increased obligations of the Republic of Cyprus as a Member-State of the EU, the opportunities it has acquired for assistance and aid and its obligations to respond to requests for assistance from other EU Member-States or third countries. The latest national Risk Assessment report was released in December 2018.

Cyprus’ participation in the European Union mitigates the obvious disadvantages it has as a small country and even the great exposure it has in natural, man-made disasters and new threats.

Its Strategic Plan defines its activities in four areas:

• Continuous education of its members and the wider public (training, exercises, seminars, updating educational materials and methods, issuing of updates and announcements)
• Staffing the Civil Defence and organization of its members (registration and ranking, organization in units and provision of equipment, finding training and administration facilities, organization of control centers)
• Prevention and Preparedness (design of a Basic National Plan and implementation of individual plans, maintenance of shelters and other protection areas, maintenance of stockpiles and relief items)
• Provision of humanitarian and relief assistance in Cyprus and abroad (response to fires, floods, earthquakes, accommodating people in need of protection, sending and exchanging experts during the intervention phase)