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Americans being assisted on buses as
they prepare to fly out of Larnaca airport |
From July 19 until today over 8,000 Americans were provided food, medical care and shelter at the International Fairgrounds in Nicosia. The Embassy team, in coordination with CENTCOM’s Task Force 59, built an entire infrastructure from scratch in 24 hours, providing more than 6,000 blankets; 4,000 sheets; thousands of towels and pillows; 1800 cots in addition to the 500 provided by the Cypriot National Guard; two 6-person shower units; scores of wheelchairs; 20 portable fans; 36,000 meals' worth of Meals Ready to Eat, and health and comfort kits. We also installed phone lines, a DSL Internet line, a wireless network for those who had laptops, as well as a registration service on Google that allows individuals to track family members. We distributed more than 7,000 phone cards so that our American guests could call their loved ones in the U.S. to let them know they had arrived safely and to coordinate onward travel.
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Children watching television while waiting
to fly to the U.S. |
The Embassy community donated books, magazines, toys, games and provided televisions to keep the children occupied. Used clothing was also donated. Embassy personnel assisted those American citizens who wanted to find taxis and hotel rooms and provided information regarding visas, arrivals and departures.
The Embassy set up a travel office several hours a day for onward travel arrangements and provided consular assistance including a photographer for those who needed to have visa passport pictures taken.
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Ambassador Schlicher and Minister of Foreign
Affairs George Lillikas at the International
Fairgrounds. The Minister toured the facilities,
met with new arrivals and with American staff,
and offered continued support |
CENTCOM’s Task Force 59 operated a full-time medical support unit, made beds, took care of individual needs, cleaned, carried out administrative duties, and assisted in the offloading and onward movement of Americans arriving from Lebanon. This coordinated operation involved dozens of buses moving to air and seaports at Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos and Nicosia.
Kykko Monastery and the Cyprus Red Cross as well as individuals, businesses and local stores donated bottled water, milk, baby food, cereal, medicine, sheets and towels, toiletries, and diapers. Local bakeries and supermarkets provided truckloads of water, fresh bread and jam every day, while teenagers opened up a cafeteria at the fairgrounds. Individuals from Doctors of the World, Rotary, the American Women’s Club, and the Cyprus American Association brought supplies, food, and toys, and volunteered a great deal of their time. [Donors List]
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U.S. Embassy Nicosia arranged for
performances by magicians and clowns to
keep the children occupied |
To keep our guests occupied, the Embassy arranged bus tours of Nicosia and transportation to local shopping malls and grocery stores. A local vendor brought clothing to the fairgrounds to sell. We set up a kids corner and arranged for performances by magicians and clowns and provided ice cream for the audience.
Many American children staying in the fairgrounds volunteered to help coordinate the distribution of health and comfort kits, and arranged activities for other children including structured games and art contests.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Lillikas, made a personal visit on July 23 to the International Fairgrounds to learn about the needs of the Americans and to continue offering his sustained assistance.
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More than 35 interviews were
arranged with approximately 25
local and international media |
To help tell our story the Embassy arranged for more than 35 interviews with approximately 25 local and international media.
More photos from the International Fairgrounds
Photo gallery of Ambassador Schlicher and Foreign Minister Lillikas visiting the Cyprus International Fairgrounds, July 23, 2006
Photo gallery of Ambassador Schlicher's visit to the Cyprus International Fairgrounds in Nicosia, on July 20, 2006 |
