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Welcoming the War’s Homeless
By Panyiota Georgiou, Cyprus
The role of Cyprus in the recent war between Israel and Lebanon was vital. Its geographically strategic position allowed the island to be both an escape for the thousands of refugees leaving the dangerous zone in Lebanon as well as a center for sending first aid and food. The Cypriot authorities were praised by local and foreign press for the valuable help they provided and for their readiness to deal with emergencies.
With less than a million inhabitants, Cyprus accepted more than10, 000 people in the first days of hostilities. Volunteers in the Civil Defense, my father being one of them, described scenes of people having left Lebanon with only the clothes on their backs - many mothers bringing their children, some brought babies as young as a few days old. The Cypriot ports of Limassol and Larnaca were busy providing necessary aid, medicine, food and water as well as beds for resting. Women volunteers, many mothers themselves, helped take care of children providing toys and paper for drawing.
It's not a coincidence that my country was such a good host to the thousands of people who left Lebanon beginning on July 20th. Ironically, Cypriots remember when they had been persecuted by the Turkish army that had invaded the island 32 years ago. They remember when they had been forced out of their homes. The pain and the anguish have not been forgotten.
My father told me that volunteers in the ports warned the incoming Lebanese people that the siren they heard did not indicate the beginning of war in Cyprus but rather commemorated the sorrow and pain the Cypriot people still suffer from that Turkish invasion. It seems Cyprus and Lebanon share a mutual understanding.
Weeks after the cessation of the hostilities in Lebanon, Cyprus takes up another role. As the most eastern country of the European Union and the closest one to Lebanon, Cyprus will become the centre of aid again as the UN sends military forces through Cyprus to Lebanon.
As long as there is a crisis in Middle East, Cyprus will never be unimportant. Its strategic importance has caused Turkey as well as other countries to vie to take over our island. But like the Lebanese people, Cypriots also hope that one day these kinds of political problems will no longer exist and everyone can remain safely in their homes.
