In the News
August 2006
US Government Thanks Cyprus
https://www.americanembassy.org.cy/LebanonEvac/ThankYouCY.htm
THANK YOU CYPRUS
The American people cannot thank Cyprus enough for its extraordinary support in helping us meet the formidable challenge of bringing more than 13,500 Americans safely out of Beirut to Cyprus and then to onward flights to the U.S. Over 8,000 were provided shelter at the Cyprus International Fairgrounds.
Generosity and the philanthropic spirit are nothing new for Cyprus, which had the highest per capita donations for American victims of Hurricane Katrina of any country. This small island, in the peak of tourist season, opened its skies, seas, homes, and hearts to U.S. citizens in need. Cyprus donated food, water, medicine, facilities, and voluntary support; it transformed a cargo port into one of the busiest passenger ports in the world. A gargantuan effort was exerted in helping Americans entering Cyprus from Lebanon return home.
The people of the United States of America want to thank the Government, the Cyprus Red Cross, and all the volunteers for all their contributions and support, as well as the individuals, businesses and local stores that donated milk, baby food, cereal, medicine, sheets and towels, toiletries, and diapers. We want to thank the local bakeries and supermarkets that provided fresh bread and jam every day, in addition to the teenagers who opened up a cafeteria at the fairgrounds.
Thanks are in order to organizations such as Rotary International and the American Women’s Club, which brought supplies, toys, and volunteers who devoted a great deal of their time and energy to helping their fellow human beings.
Thanks are also due to the American children staying in the fairgrounds who helped coordinate the distribution of health and comfort kits, and who arranged activities for other children including games, art contests, and birthday celebrations.
In addition, I thank the U.S. Embassy staff and local Cypriot and American volunteers who worked around the clock assisting people in need, and the U.S. government agencies that provided emergency supplies and humanitarian support to American arrivals from Lebanon as well as humanitarian supplies into Lebanon and a medical support unit that was available around the clock.
An entire infrastructure was created to assist over 13,500 arrivals to return home: more than 6,000 blankets; 7,000 sheets; 6,600 towels; 4,500 pillows; 1900 cots; a 12-person shower unit; 50 wheelchairs; 20 portable fans; 5,200 bottles of water; food, and more than 1,100 health and comfort kits. Phone lines, a DSL Internet line, and a donated registration service on Google allowed families to find and communicate with their loved ones. America thanks you.
Ronald Schlicher
Ambassador of the United States of America to Cyprus
