TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 18 AS OF 1800 LOCAL,

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 001206

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO USAID

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2016
TAGS: AEMR ASEC KPAO MGT LE CY KFLO CASC AMGT
SUBJECT: TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 18 AS OF 1800 LOCAL,
WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2006

REF: A. NICOSIA 1166


B. NICOSIA 1167

C. NICOSIA 1170

D. NICOSIA 1172

E. NICOSIA 1174

F. NICOSIA 1175

G. NICOSIA 1176

H. NICOSIA 1177

I. NICOSIA 1179

J. NICOSIA 1180

K. NICOSIA 1182

L. NICOSIA 1183

M. NICOSIA 1184

N. NICOSIA 1186

O. NICOSIA 1189

P. NICOSIA 1190

Q. NICOSIA 1192

R. NICOSIA 1195

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


1. (C) Summary: Total headcount of U.S. citizens received
in Cyprus as of 1800L July 26 was 11,926. 9,087 had departed
by 1800L on July 26. 350 people were at the Fairgrounds as
of 1800L. End summary.

CONSULAR


2. (C) The following are consular updates:

--Headcount of U.S.-sponsored arrivals in Cyprus as of
1800(L) July 26:

11 via helicopter July 16
62 via helicopter and 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
1054 via MV Orient Queen July 20
3 via HMS Gloucester July 20
27 via UN Serenade & IREA Petra July 20
187 via helicopter (BAB) July 20
100 via UN ship Serenade July 21
1054 via USS Nashville July 21
790 via Orient Queen July 21
241 via helicopter (BAB) July 21
1803 via USS Trenton July 22
27 via Greek Ikaria July 22
21 via MV Akioni July 22
1050 via USS Nashville July 22
815 via Ramah July 22
39 via helicopter 2108 July 22
1005 via USS Whidbey July 23
983 via Orient Queen July 23
38 via helicopter July 23
401 via USS Nashville July 24
26 via helicopter July 24
574 via Orient Queen July 24
3 via Princess Marissa July 25
5 via helicopter July 25
7 via helicopter July 25
129 via Ramah July 25
36 via helicopter July 25
281 via Vittoria M July 25
338 via Orient Queen July 26 (estimated)
7 via French military helicopter July 26
4 via IREA Petra July 26

TOTAL: 11,926

--There were a total of 9,087 U.S.-assisted departures from
Cyprus on U.S. charter flights as of 1800L July 26 (lower
than sitrep 17 due to two last minute flight cancellations).
The Vittoria M was due to arrive at 1800L with 250 U.S.
citizens, and the Princess Marissa (Canadian charter) is
expected to arrive from southern Lebanon at 0300 July 27 with
approximately 200 U.S. citizens.

--Approximately 350 people (undocumented humanitarian cases
and their relatives) will spend the night at the Fairgrounds,
but we expect this number to increase to 900 by 1200L on July
27 with the arrival of the Orient Queen.

--CONS sent approximately 30 cases for consideration for
humanitarian parole to the Department of Homeland Security on
July 26. These cases are labor intensive and the
documentation takes time to scan; CONS estimates it has
transmitted 35-40 cases total thus far. CONS expects that
some of these cases may take weeks or longer to resolve.

--Post will address septel our thoughts on the need to
address our backlog of parole cases and cases with
ineligibilities, as this population becomes more desperate.

MANAGEMENT


3. (C) The following are management updates:

--Post will begin to move those who have been at the
Fairgrounds for longer than 24 hours to hotels beginning July
27, with the goal of emptying the Fairgrounds completely by
July 29.

--As of 2000L July 26, the Larnaca and Limassol control rooms
will be consolidated into the Nicosia control room. Port and
airport teams will remain at their respective locations, but
will be dispatched from Nicosia. Larnaca control room staff
providing CONS telephone support will be folded into a
consular call center to be established at Embassy Nicosia
beginning July 27.
SCHLICHER