LARNACA - Cyprus complained on Friday it felt ”left alone” by the international community over the unprecedented evacuation of foreign nationals from Lebanon to the tiny holiday island.Since the sealift began in earnest on Monday, some 20,000 foreign nationals have come through Cyprus, the majority of whom have now left for home, putting massive pressure on facilities at the peak of the holiday season. “Up until now Cyprus has been basically left alone and unassisted in its effort to help so many thousands of people,” Cypriot government spokesman Christodoulos Pashardes told reporters. “This astonishingly large number is already challenging our acknowledged success so far and testing our infrastructure and the ability of Cyprus to effectively respond to this serious humanitarian problem,” he added.
Cyprus has called for the immediate intervention of other countries, especially from the EU, to help it handle the thousands of people from poorer countries who need to be swiftly repatriated. Its key request is to make more aircraft available, especially for third country nationals.