A recent report has raised concerns about the state of civil shelters across Cyprus, following increased attention to national security after a drone attack at the Akrotiri Base.
According to Maria Papa, there are approximately 2,500 shelters nationwide, covering 40–45% of the population. However, questions remain about their suitability in terms of infrastructure, capacity, and structural integrity.
Shelters Often Misused or Neglected
Investigations using the “SafeCY” app revealed that many shelters are underground parking areas occupied by residents’ vehicles or business staff. Some marked shelters were untraceable on the ground, either because they do not exist or lack proper signage.
In several cases, shelter spaces were being used as storage areas for shops, while others were littered with garbage and debris. While the SafeCY app directs users to nearby shelters, additional tools like Google Maps are needed to navigate to them.
Plans for Expansion and Maintenance
Konstantinos Ioannou highlighted plans to increase available shelters by converting additional underground spaces from private owners. Incentives such as increased building allowances will be offered, with functional suitability verified by Civil Defense authorities. Nonetheless, maintaining cleanliness and order remains the responsibility of the property owners.
A Brief History of Cyprus’ Shelters
Civil shelters in Cyprus are designed to protect civilians for short periods during emergencies. The shelter program began in 1999, when authorities considered two approaches:
- Constructing new underground shelters in large open spaces, which was deemed too costly.
- Repurposing existing underground spaces—a solution adopted nationwide for its efficiency and scalability.
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