TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 04 AS OF 1800 LOCAL,

S E C R E T NICOSIA 001172 SIPDIS SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO USAID E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2016 TAGS: AEMR ASEC KPAO CMGT LE CY KFLO CASC AMGT SUBJECT: TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 04 AS OF 1800 LOCAL, WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2006 REF: A. NICOSIA 1166 ¶B. NICOSIA 1167 ¶C. NICOSIA 1170 Classified By: Ambassador Ronald L. Schlicher, reasons 1.4 B/D ¶1. (S) Summary: Preparations continue to accommodate thousands over the next few days. Total headcount of U.S. citizens received as of 1800L is 467. POL/MIL ¶2. (S) The following are pol/mil updates: --USAF Europe is sending 20 medics and three medical doctors to Cyprus, arrival late July 20. --DAO noted that Larnaca port may be reaching berthing capacity, and ships may be diverted to Limassol. --DCM attended MFA meeting today in which Government of Cyprus (GOC) indicated that all/all ship arrivals delivering foreign citizens from Lebanon and all assisted departures must arrive south of the Green Line. Also, countries will be responsible for TCNs and indigent individuals arriving via their countries' transport. GOC has established its own task force in Larnaca at the following numbers: (357) 99-558-896 or (357) 99-201-780. GOC is also requesting help with the evacuation of 100 more of its citizens from Beirut. CONSULAR ¶3. (S) The following are consular updates: --The following ships are expected to dock in Cyprus in the next 24 hours: MV Orient Queen (1011 passengers, majority U.S. citizens - departed Beirut 1610L) HMS York (possibly carrying a handful of U.S. citizens) Jean de Vienne (possibly carrying U.S. citizens) --The following is an accounting of U.S. citizens who have arrived in Cyprus: 11 via helicopter July 16 53 via helicopter July 17 9 via ship July 17 37 via French-chartered ship July 18 104 via helicopter July 18 138 via Hoegh Norwegian ship July 19 4 via Greek military ship July 19 121 via helicopter (BAB) July 19 TOTAL: 467 (as of 1800L, Nicosia control room) --USS Nashville is expected to begin transporting up to 1200 U.S. citizens July 20; the Iwo Jima will also be arriving and carries Chinook helicopters; by July 22 will be able to significantly increase number of Americans transported. --The Beirut Air Bridge (BAB) continues to operate. --First charter flight from Cyprus to Manchester departed this evening at 1850. There will be three planes to CONUS July 20 with a combined capacity of 752. Should expect a surge of people requesting spots on charter flights as availability becomes known. --Embassy has currently identified approximately 800 beds scattered island-wide; 325 of these are available beginning late July 19 at the Cyprus International Fairgrounds. Post is working to expand the number of available beds at the Fairgrounds. --Post notes the importance of maintaining adequate consular officers on the ground in Nicosia as U.S. citizens flow in large waves from Beirut to Cyprus. --As full USG capacity to move U.S. citizens out of Lebanon is reached, all addressees should keep in mind Cyprus's limited ability to accommodate our maximum potential daily numbers. Nicosia will keep addressees apprised of when we will reach maximum capacity; excess numbers of evacuees will need to go to other locales to avoid a process overload. MANAGEMENT ¶4. (U) The following are management updates: --328 cots are now set up at the Cyprus International Fairgrounds. Facilities include: air conditioning, bathrooms, showers nearby and shuttles provided to showers; 300 donated towels, soap and shampoo. Buses have been arranged for transport from the Larnaca seaport to the Fairgrounds in Nicosia. --MGT has contracted with a military husbanding agent to find hotel rooms for private U.S. citizens. --Larnaca control room is now fully staffed 24/7; Limassol control room is staffed by two people, but not 24 hours. --MGT has identified a volunteer coordinator who will work with local Rotary and volunteers to assist at Fairgrounds. SECURITY ¶5. (S) The following are security updates: --Regional Security Office (RSO) has perimeter security is in place at the Fairgrounds but ID system for evacuees need to be designed. Press have already tried to enter the Fairgrounds claiming they were evacuees. --US marshals and supervisors are due to arrive on the first charter flight and will maintain a presence on all charter flights to CONUS. --DEA reported that it is in touch with Legatt at Embassy Athens regarding monitoring flight manifests for U.S. citizens on watchlists. REGIONAL AFFAIRS ¶6. (S) RA expects three TDY staff arriving July 20. PUBLIC AFFAIRS ¶7. (U) The press control room in Larnaca is now fielding nearly all press calls. ECON ¶8. (U) The following are updates from the economic section: --The Cyprus Tourism Office (CTO) has established a help desk at the airport. --Middle Eastern Airlines (MEA) has requested permission to conduct its flights out of Cyprus. This could take much pressure off of Cyprus Airways to transfer tickets. --Cyprus Airways will increase the number of its ticketing agents at the airport as of July 20. --Embassy Nicosia has identified eight potential ships for hire; all are requesting whether we are still interested. At least one airline has expressed an interest in operating increased flights from Cyprus to Europe. Embassy will continue to pass this information back to the Taskforce for appropriate action. SCHLICHER