TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 05 AS OF 0900 LOCAL,

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 001174

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO USAID

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2016
TAGS: AEMR ASEC KPAO CMGT LE CY KFLO CASC AMGT
SUBJECT: TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 05 AS OF 0900 LOCAL,
THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2006

REF: A. NICOSIA 1166

B. NICOSIA 1167

C. NICOSIA 1170

D. NICOSIA 1172

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald L. Schlicher, reasons 1.4 B/D


1. (C) Summary: Embassy Nicosia's focus remains assisting
arriving U.S. citizens and helping Embassy Beirut. Total
headcount of U.S. citizens received has substantially
increased to 1529 (as of 0745L).

POL/MIL


2. (C) The following are pol/mil updates:

--DAO has assigned an officer to try to synchronize ship
arrival with charter flight departures in order to avoid
reaching critical saturation on the ground in Cyprus. This
will allow us to avoid accommodating large numbers of people
in between arrivals and departures.

CONSULAR


3. (C) The following are consular updates:

--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
160 via helicopter (Beirut Air Bridge - BAB) July 19
3 via HMS York July 19
3 via Crete II July 19
1012 MV Orient Queen July 20
3 HMS Gloucester July 20
TOTAL: 1529 (as of 0745L, Nicosia control room)

--2200 people are scheduled to arrive in Cyprus from Beirut
July 21; 4500 scheduled to arrive July 22.

--Approximately 750 U.S. citizens are expected to depart
Cyprus via charter flights July 20.

--Three consular officers from Cyprus departed on July 20
morning BAB for Beirut. Plans are in the works to send two
more officers on July 20 afternoon BAB.

--24 more TDY CONS officers are currently en route to Cyprus.

--If the USS Nashville arrives at the Limassol port, we will
need to shift considerable staffing resources from Larnaca to
Limassol.

--As of July 20 Cyprus CONS operations will move registration
for charter flights to the Cyprus International Fairgrounds.

--MGT and military husbanding agent are working with
shipping agents to move ships in and out of ports faster.

MANAGEMENT


4. (U) The following are management updates:

--Currently 700 U.S. citizens who arrived on the MV Orient
Queen are staying at the Cyprus International Fairgrounds.

--The Cypriot Red Cross is provide 1,000 cots and CTF-59 is
providing 1,000 more.

--Embassy Nicosia has called on all available USG personnel,
LES, EFMs and Cypriot family members and friends to volunteer
at Fairgrounds. CONS staffing at the Fairgrounds is limited,
however we are shifting personnel there as of July 20 morning.

--10 U.S. marines from Akrotiri are scheduled to arrive 1215L
July 20 to assist with staffing at the Fairgrounds.

--Inhalers have been provided to U.S. citizens requiring
them; per DAO, a medical corpsman and possibly a military
doctor will also arrive with the ten marines from Akrotiri.

--MGT and ECON are working to provide extra milk and snacks
to relieve Fairgrounds restaurant.

--Fairgrounds staff are doing their very best to accommodate
our needs but their capacity is strained.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS


5. (U) The following are public affairs updates:

--Public Affairs Section shifted four FSNs from Larnaca press
room to the Fairgrounds July 20 to manage press. Press are
established outside the Fairground entrance, where American
arrivals who want to speak to press may readily do so.

--The Press Center in Larnaca has a new phone number: (357)
24-824-944.
SCHLICHER