The Ministry of the Interior is turning to external experts to assess the need for new civil defence shelters and the possible conversion of existing facilities, according to the Civil Defence budget for 2027.
The move follows concerns highlighted after the drone attack on the British air base at Akrotiri in the early hours of 2 May 2026, an incident that exposed significant gaps in Cyprus' civil protection infrastructure. Efforts by the ministry to increase the number of available shelters since then have produced limited results.
The planned testing of warning sirens at RAF Akrotiri on Wednesday, aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of the warning system, has renewed attention on shortcomings in civil defence preparedness.
Among the most serious issues identified after the Akrotiri incident were:
- A lack of sufficient shelter capacity.
- Uneven shelter coverage across the island.
- Maintenance concerns affecting some existing shelters.
Community leaders, particularly in areas near Paphos Airport, publicly complained after hearing air raid sirens that there were no nearby shelters to which residents could be directed.
€100,000 budgeted for expert assessment
Against this backdrop, the Interior Ministry intends to engage external consultants to prepare a study examining:
- The need for new shelters.
- The conversion of existing spaces into shelters.
- Possible solutions to long-standing shelter shortages.
The proposal appears in the Ministry's 2027 budget for Civil Defence, which is scheduled to be examined by the House Finance Committee on 9 November.
A total of €100,000 has been allocated for the study.
A further €100,000 is earmarked for:
- Improving and maintaining shelters and civil protection facilities in line with legislation.
- Creating or maintaining specialised shelters for state institutions, including ministries and other public bodies.
Existing shelters cover less than half the population
According to Interior Ministry data, existing shelters are insufficient to accommodate the entire population.
They also do not cover all areas of Cyprus and are concentrated mainly within urban centres.
There are currently approximately 2,500 shelters, providing coverage for only 40% to 45% of the population.
‘Not even enough to count on one hand’
Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou, speaking on 9 October 2026 on Politis 107.6 and the programme Morning Briefing, acknowledged that major challenges remain in increasing shelter numbers in the short term.
He said that while there had been strong public expressions of support following the spring security crisis, actual cooperation from organisations approached by the government had fallen short of expectations.
According to Ioannou, discussions were held with various organised groups, including:
- The hotel industry.
- The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
- The Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB).
- The Church.
However, the number of additional shelters ultimately made available was extremely small.
“They cannot even be counted on the fingers of one hand,” he said.
Limited response from businesses and communities
The minister said that following the drone attack at Akrotiri, a dedicated team of five officials was established to contact companies and organisations that own underground facilities, including supermarkets, in order to assess whether such spaces could be used as shelters.
He also referred to communities that had publicly appealed for shelters following the Akrotiri incident.
Despite those appeals, he said, when suitable underground premises were identified within community councils or church properties, the response was limited.
According to Ioannou, only one or two communities ultimately responded positively.
He stressed that the state's efforts are severely constrained when property owners or facility managers are unwilling to make suitable spaces available.
“The state cannot create more shelters if owners or managers are not prepared to make those spaces available.”
Planning incentives for shelter provision
Despite the difficulties, the minister said efforts continue.
He noted that a ministerial decree has already been issued providing a planning incentive for the allocation of underground spaces as civil defence shelters.
According to Ioannou, interest in the scheme has been significant.
However, the developments concerned must first be completed before additional shelter capacity becomes available.
Under the scheme, developers constructing apartment buildings, as well as owners of existing apartment blocks, may receive additional free building coefficient if they dedicate basement areas for use as shelters.
Third inspection cycle underway
Ioannou also addressed the condition of existing shelters.
He said a third inspection cycle is currently under way after sampling inspections previously identified problems in three shelters.
A deadline has been set for the end of October for the reinspection of more than 1,000 shelters.
Because Civil Defence lacks sufficient personnel to carry out the work alone, staff from other departments within the Interior Ministry are being deployed to assist with inspections.
