in-cyprus 15 September 2020 - by Annie Charalambous
The estimated cost for the repatriation of Cypriot citizens stranded abroad because of the coronavirus pandemic is about €1.3 million, Philenews reported on Tuesday.
This is what Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said in a response letter to Opposition Akel MP Irini Charalambides.
Karousos also noted that the Ministry was responsible for the repatriation process of people from abroad by chartered flights and their transportation by bus or taxi to and from quarantine areas.
In addition, the Ministry was responsible for the chartering of special flights for the transport of medical equipment from China.
Up until August 25, the amount of €1,314,074.73 has been paid for all these purposes, he also said and noted the bidding process followed in each case.
Cypriots abroad when the aviation restriction measures were implemented are estimated at around 11,500. And they were scattered in about 100 countries.
Some of them were overseas for business or health reasons. Several others were students – mainly in the United Kingdom – who wanted to be repatriated mainly because the pandemic state of play was really bad there.