On the steps of progress THE BLUE BERET Climate Change on Cyprus? By Ibrahim Gambari Published monthly by the: Editorial uring my recent visit to Cyprus from 6 to 9 July Bearing that in mind, I want to take this opportunity Public Information Office 2006, a reception organised in my honour on a to once again commend the two leaders for the commit- United Nations Peacekeeping Force in We devote this special issue of the Blue Beret to two DFriday night might have helped to break the ice. ments they made in my presence. At the same time, I Cyprus issues only. The first recounts the successful But it was the agreement signed by Mr. Papadopoulos want to urge Cypriots and their representatives in these HQ UNFICYP outcome of USG Gambari’s visit at the beginning of and Mr. Talat in the afternoon of the following day, discussions to take good advantage of this new and PO Box 21642 the month and the agreement he brokered with the Saturday, 8 July, that many hope will portend a warm- potentially important opportunity before them. In stat- 1590 Nicosia two leaders to move ahead with the launch of ing of the atmosphere on Cyprus. ing that a comprehensive settlement is both desirable Cyprus technical committees. The second shows how this The United Nations could not agree more with the and possible, I believe the two leaders were articulating Tel: 2261-4550/4416/4408 mission geared up virtually overnight to support and view expressed in the 8 July agreement that the status the aspirations of their people. Fax: 2261-4461 help out our embattled colleagues and the many quo in Cyprus is unacceptable – and that its prolonga- An enduring image of my tour of the buffer zone – E-mail: [email protected] others trapped in the devastating developments in tion is harmful to all Cypriots. Absent a shared commit- the hulk of a vintage automobile frozen in time where it [email protected] neighbouring Lebanon. Sadly, we also salute the four ment to tearing down the barriers and barbed wire, one stood in 1974 – was a reminder of just how long the Website:www.unficyp.org military observers who died so tragically and we cannot easily envision a settlement. impasse has gone on. But there were also reminders of Editorial Team extend our sympathies to their families. Nor can one imagine a successful process in Cyprus the dangers that persist. The sight of soldiers separated Brian Kelly An op-ed article by USG Gambari endorses the in a climate of mutual recriminations. That is why it was by only metres in some places underscores the risks of Anne Bursey view expressed in the 8 July agreement that the also important that the leaders agreed to create a more this stalemate continuing. Capt. Štefan Zemanovic status quo in Cyprus is unacceptable. He notes that nurturing environment for discussions. The Cyprus problem requires a Cypriot solution. The Miriam Taylor prolonging it is harmful to all Cypriots. He observes Eyes turn now to the process of bi-communal dis- commitment of the United Nations to a comprehensive Netha Kreouzos that many will look to the bi-communal discussions cussions, slated to begin by the end of the month with settlement, so clearly evidenced during the term of the hands-on involvement of the Secretary-General’s Secretary-General Kofi Annan, has not waned and will Sgt. Jozef Kocka (Photographer) as a barometer of the political will to move forward, determining whether the time is ripe to re-launch Special Representative in Cyprus, Michael Møller. Many not go away. Unit Press Officers negotiations for a comprehensive settlement. He will be looking to these discussions, rightly or wrongly, What more can be done in the final months of the Sector 1 Capt. Mauricio Silvestre urges Cypriots and their representatives to take as a barometer of political will to move forward, which, year will depend on what signals emerge on the island. Sector 2 2/Lt. Jen Jones advantage of this new opportunity, noting that the in turn, would determine whether the time is ripe to re- The 8 July agreement was a welcome step. What we launch negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of are looking for now are further signs of climate change Sector 4 MSgt. Silvia Lojanová Cyprus problem requires a Cypriot solution. the Cyprus problem. on Cyprus. Capt. Tibor Berecz As USG Gambari makes his pitch for resuming the [Published in Politis and Kibris on 28 July] MFR Lt. Belinda Stevens peace process here on island and SRSG Moller gets UNPOL Sgt. Aidan Lynham ready to facilitate the technical committee meetings, Cyprus has been helping some 47,000 evacuees en UN Flt Lt. Wenceslao Bona USG Gambari’s Statement route to their eventual destinations as they flee the FMPU Capt. Jozef Sventek conflict in Lebanon. after meeting with leaders We report on UNFICYP’s own efforts, which helped The Blue Beret is UNFICYP’s in-house Statement made by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari following the journal. Views expressed are of the bring 1,222 evacuees to safety from Beirut and ports meeting with H.E. Tassos Papadopoulos and H.E. Mehmet Ali Talat at the SRSG’s official residence authors concerned, and do not neces- in southern Lebanon, including 392 UN staff or in the UNPA on 8 July 2006. sarily conform with official policy. dependents. We also helped resupply our belea- Articles of general interest (plus photos guered colleagues in UNIFIL. Our UN Flight Bell 212 Set of Principles with captions) are invited from all

Serving UNFICYP’s civilian, military and police personnel Serving UNFICYP’s helicopter flew twice to Beirut, carrying the Lebanese 1. Commitment to the unification of Cyprus based on members of the Force. Prime Minister and senior officials to and from a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and political Copyright of all material is vested in UN Larnaca Airport en route to the 26 July summit in equality, as set out in the relevant Security Council publications, but may be reproduced with Rome and back. resolutions. the Editor’s permission. 2. Recognition of the fact that the status quo is unacceptable and that its prolongation would have negative consequences for the Turkish and Greek Contents Cypriots. Editorial ...... 2 3. Commitment to the proposition that a comprehen- sive settlement is both desirable and possible, and USG Gambari’s Visit: should not be further delayed. Climate Change on Cyprus ...... 3 4. Agreement to begin a process immediately, invol- USG Gambari’s Statement ...... 3 ving bi-communal discussion of issues that affect the Three meetings end two-year hiatus ...... 4/5 day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both of which will Leaders’ Aides exchange lists ...... 6 contribute to a comprehensive settlement. Leaders keep their date with CMP 3rd Member . .6 5. Commitment to ensure that the “right atmos- Local Press News ...... 7 phere” prevails for this process to be successful. In Lebanon that connection, confidence building measures are essential, both in terms of improving the atmosphere Crisis in Lebanon ...... 8/9 and improving the life of all Turkish and Greek Three profiles – One mission accomplished . .10/11 Cypriots. Also in that connection, an end must be put Crisis Centre coordinates evacuation . . . .12/13/14 to the so-called “blame game”. Decision by the two leaders “It is wrong” – USG Egeland ...... 15 The Technical Committees on issues that affect the Prime Ministrer Fuad Siniora of Lebanon returned Mission-to-Mission Mission ...... 15 day to day life of people will commence by the end of to Beirut via Cyprus on 27 July after attending “On the boat, off the boat” ...... 15 July provided that, at the same time, the two leaders the previous day’s crisis conference in Rome. He will also have exchanged a list of issues of substance and members of his delegation arrived by private Correction: June issue (page 6) misidentified the Slovak Ambassador, H.E. Ján Varšo, as Hungarian Ambassador Janos Kisfalvi. and its contents to be studied by expert bi-communal jet at Larnaca Airport and were flown on by working groups and finalized by the leaders. UNFICYP Bell 212 helicopter to Beirut. Photo shows Prime Minister Siniora (right) Front Cover: On the steps of progress The two leaders will meet further, from time to getting a pre-flight safety briefing from UN Flight time as appropriate, to give directions to the expert 2i/c Capt. Adrian Longo. Force Commander Maj. Back Cover: The Leaving of Lebanon bi-communal working groups as well as to review the Gen. Rafael Barni looks on. work of the Technical Committees. 2 July 2006 – The Blue Beret July 2006 – The Blue Beret 3 Three meetings end two-year hiatus n 8 July, H.E. Tassos Papadopoulos and H.E. Mehmet Ali Talat agreed to a process for the launch by the end of the month of bi-communal Odiscussions of everyday issues on the island provided the two sides have also swapped lists of substantive issues for review by bi-communal working groups and for approval by the leaders. The agreement was brokered in the course of a three-and-half hour meeting with Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, at SRSG Michael Møller’s official residence in the UNPA. It marked the culmination of USG Gambari’s three days on the island following visits to Ankara and Athens starting 2 July. The occasion was the third meeting between the two leaders in the space of a week, breaking a hiatus of more than two years. The two leaders and the USG in discussion After 8 July’s three-way meeting, USG Gambari read out a statement (full text previous page) noting the two leaders’ commitment to unification based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and political equality, as set out in relevant SC resolutions. According to the statement, Mr. Papadopou- los and Mr. Talat would meet as needed to help direct the expert bi-communal working groups and to review the work of the technical committees. USG Gambari said the discussions had been very SRSG Møller greeting USG Gambari frank, that the two leaders had recognised “that the on his arrival in Cyprus status quo is unacceptable” and that to prolong it would impact negatively on Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots alike. Both acknowledged a compre- hensive settlement “is both desirable and possible, and should not be further delayed”, he said. They had agreed to “begin a process immediately, involving bi- communal discussion of issues that affect the day-to- day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both of which will con- USG Gambari inspecting the buffer zone intersection tribute to a comprehensive settlement”. Success in the Ledra Street area of old Nicosia required the “right atmosphere”, including CBMs and The two leaders and their aides an end to the so-called “blame game”, he added. The period between 3 and 8 July ended a lull of more than two years during which there were no meetings between the leaders. Starting 3 July, Mr. Papadopoulos and Mr. Talat got together three times in less than a week, all under UN auspices. On 3 July, they first came to the Chief of Mission’s official resi- dence in the UNPA, the occasion being the entry on duty of Christophe Girod, the CMP’s new 3rd Member. They met again when both attended the 7 July Ledra Palace reception for USG Gambari. During his stay in Nicosia, USG Gambari met separ- ately twice with each of the leaders and he consulted with members of the island’s political, commercial and diplomatic communities in addition to meeting with a cross-section of the island’s leadership at the Ledra Palace reception. In addition to being briefed on UNFICYP’s range of USG Gambari’s team - Serge Gakwandi-Kubwimana, Laura Vaccari activities and responsibilities,USG Gambari was also and Alexandra Pichler The two leaders, the USG and guests briefed on the status of UN MAC’s de-mining opera- at the Ledra Palace Hotel reception tions and on the activities of UNDP-ACT and UNDP- PFF here on the island. USG Gambari inspecting the honour guard at HQ UNFICYP

Thumbs-Up by USG Gambari prior to his departure from SRSG Møller bidding USG Gambari farewell the island 4 July 2006 – The Blue Beret June 2006 – The Blue Beret 5 Leaders’ Aides Coffee or Campari? he Gambari visit to Cyprus and from a “meeting of substance”. One exchange lists his meetings with the two paper called it a “dialogue on the r. Rasit Pertev and Mr. Tasos Tzionis, principal aides to Tleaders dominated local press substance under pre-conditions”. H.E. Mehmet Ali Talat and H.E. Tassos Papadopoulos coverage from 6 to 9 July. The The cartoon which got the Mrespectively, exchanged lists of issues of substance apex was the joint meeting and biggest chuckle was “Coffee or at the UNFICYP HQ office of SRSG Michael øMller in the agreement with the two leaders on Campari?” (see below), but Mr. UNPA on 31 July. In doing so, they met the deadline agreed 8 July for the start of technical talks Gambari also featured in the regular to by the leaders at the 8 July meeting with USG Gambari.a by the end of the month. cartoon strip Zulu, and his appear- Work continues to ensure the speedy start of the tech- Seen as a tentative break- ance in national costume created an nical committees on issues affecting the day-to-day life of through, the headlines greeted the approving stir among the fashion- people as well as of the expert bi-communal working groups news as a “positive step” resulting conscious. on substantive issues. Mr. Tzionis, Mr. Pertev and Mr. M øller expressed confi- dence that the start of this process was imminent.

Leaders keep their date with CMP 3rd Member Front Page News he first meeting between the two leaders took place on 3 July, when Mr. Papadopoulos and Mr. TTalat kept a longstanding commitment that they would get together to mark the entry on duty of the CMP’s new 3rd Member Christophe Girod. Mr. Girod had met individually with each of the leaders at the beginning of June during a brief familiarisation visit to the island. On his return to take up full time duties, Mr. Girod and members of the CMP assembled on 3 July at the Chief of Mission’s residence, where he and SRSG Møller greeted each of the leaders as they arrived for their historic meeting and introduced them to all of the CMP members.

CMP members awaiting the leaders at the SRSG’s residence 6 July 2006 – The Blue Beret July 2006 – The Blue Beret 7 Crisis in Lebanon – UNF ICYP Aids Colleagues

ome 150 United Nations non-essential staff and their Forced to stand out to sea overnight, the M.V. dependents, including more than 100 from UNIFIL, Serenade moved in to an offshore anchorage position Slanded safely in Larnaca, Cyprus, in the early hours of on the morning of 20 July before launching an intri- 21 July having been evacuated by UN-chartered vessel from cate eight-hour shuttle operation involving the use of Tyre in embattled southern Lebanon. Some 700 non-UN, two 70-passenger tenders. This was because Tyre third nationals who had gathered in Tyre’s small port seeking lacks adequate docking facilities for vessels the size passage to safety were also successfully extracted. of the M.V. Serenade. The vessel departed Limassol just before midday on 19 Ship’s crew and UN personnel from UNFICYP and July. On board was a UN support crew made up of some 30 UNIFIL worked flat out to transfer all evacuees from uniformed and civilian personnel, headed by UN Security shore rendezvous point to ship. The effort was handi- Official Simon Butt and including UNFICYP peacekeepers, capped when one of the tenders broke down. This medical staff and civilian police. Team members were hand- slowed down the transfer since one tender had to tow picked to help assist in the evacuation. the other on each shuttle run to and from the port. All told, 56 nationalities were represented in the 900-plus The good ship Serenade did not up anchor and passenger complement that disembarked in Larnaca some 38 turn for home until all awaiting evacuation port side hours later at 2.30 a.m. SRSG Michael Møller, accompanied in Tyre had been safely extracted and brought on by UNFICYP Force Commander Maj. Gen. Rafael Barni, was board. Next morning, on arrival in Larnaca, the tired there to greet them on arrival. but grateful passengers disembarked and were SRSG Møller went on board the Louis Cruise Line M.V. processed by dedicated Cypriot immigration and Serenade to thank Captain Demetris Giotsopoulos and his customs officials in just two and a half hours. crew for an outstanding job carried out in difficult circum- Meanwhile the ship reprovisioned, turned around stances. The SRSG also paid tribute to the Cypriot authorities and headed back out to sea, this time Beirut-bound. for their excellent support throughout the operation. A virtually unchanged UNFICYP team remained on Chartered on behalf of the United Nations by UNFICYP, the board. The Serenade picked up 200 UN staff and M.V. Serenade is believed to have been the first evacuation dependents in Beirut and docked back in Larnaca at vessel to enter the waters off Tyre since hostilities erupted. 4.15 a.m. on 22 July. The complexity of the evacuation operation at Tyre and the conditions under which it was carried out are clearly seen in the accompanying pictures – as, undeterred by distant explosions, UNFICYP and UNIFIL peacekeepers directed the evacuees to the waiting tenders which brought them out ship-side. Photos featured here were taken by UNFICYP personnel and by Plamen Matanski, shipboard photographer, M.V. Serenade.

8 9 Three Profiles – One Mission Accomplished In just under 65 hours, starting 19 July, hundred UN staff and dependents were Apart from collecting passenger information and collapsed in my arms, completely exhausted mentally UNFICYP was involved in the evacuation evacuated from Beirut. The Blue Beret details for the ship’s manifest aboard ship, Donna too and physically.” of 1,181 people from southern Lebanon - spoke with members of the military and noted how UNPOL served as an initial point of contact Donna says that while they were in Tyre, it was for many people. “We were a mental aid for those who clear from the explosions that they were in the 981 of them from Tyre where some of the police team who sailed with the M.V. were scared, frightened, disassociated and living on midst of a war zone. But they had a job to do and heaviest bombing had been experienced Serenade, tasked with extracting the their nerves for the last 10 days. There were many that is what they focused on. They didn’t have time to since hostilities began on 12 July. Two civilians and bringing them to safety. small children with their parents who had been reflect. running on adrenalin. There were also many cases of She says there was excellent interaction between irst Lieutenant Gabriel Alcides dehydration and exhaustion.” all personnel involved. “The military did a brilliant job, Estrella, Contingent Chief of the they didn’t sleep for days and per- FArgentinian Gendarmeria, arrived formed excellently. The Stress Coun- at UNFICYP on 5 July and was thrown sellors were a great help, as many into the eye of the storm as the people were traumatized by what mission prepared to evacuate UN non- they had witnessed. Some experi- essential staff and dependents from enced panic attacks and were suffer- embattled southern Lebanon. ing from anxiety. The medical team His training and experience stood worked tirelessly to help as many him in good stead when dealing with people as possible. It was a fantastic the evacuees from Tyre and Beirut. He team effort all round.” explains that he was not nervous about The trip to Beirut involved evacu- what might lie ahead. Instead, he ation of fewer people and there was focused on the situation at hand and better access to food and supplies. how best to deal with whatever even- There was not the same level of tualities might crop up in Tyre and stress and exhaustion as had been Beirut. Anchored approximately two the case in Tyre, she says. km off the Tyre harbour, he says they Donna’s third trip as a volunteer for could hear the inshore explosions the Australian government resulted which were very loud. On the horizon, in the evacuation of 397 people – 342 there were black clouds of smoke Australians, 48 Germans and 7 Poles, mushrooming into the sky from the she says. "That was hard-going as bombs. Against this background, he people were terrified. They had panic says UNFICYP military personnel attacks, were fainting and suffering worked calmly alongside colleagues from seasickness," she says. She also 1/Lt. Gabriel Alcides Estrella with Force Commander Maj.Gen. Rafael Barni from UNIFIL, helping civilians onto two says she would go back in a heart- tenders to ferry passengers to the M.V. Serenade Jones says two life-boats were initially used to ferry beat, and has her passport and where he and other team members plus the ship’s people to the ship. These were manned by ship’s crew 2/Lt. Jen Jones helping passengers disembark toothbrush ready so she can leave at crew were waiting to receive them. and military personnel. One of the boats broke down, any moment. “From a personal point Estrella notes that UNPOL’s task was to deal with slowing down operations she said. They had already The UNPOL officers offered the evacuees reassur- of view, just to help people through a dreadful the administrative paperwork, filling in forms for the experienced delays in getting people through customs ance and a shoulder to cry on. In some cases, they experience saying ‘here’s my hand – if you need it, ship’s manifest, taking down personal details from the within the permitted time-frame. Yet, M.V. Serenade did no more than listen to someone tell their story. It take it,’ that was good for me.” families, their final destination, etc. UNPOL also served did not leave until everybody was safely on board, she was natural. Police officers are trained to deal with By Netha Kreouzos as points of contact for the passengers, many of whom says. people going through emotional crisis, she says. needed reassurance as well as medical assistance. Once on board, the medical team, consisting of Three separate cases made an Estrella says, “I feel proud to have represented my Maj. Jo Halford and Cpl. Snowy Adams, along with the impression on Donna. One was a group country and the United Nations in this relief effort. ship’s doctor, managed to treat around 300 people, of Kenyan women, UN staff members, Such situations where you see women and children most suffering from dehydration, exhaustion and whose positive attitude served to alone, fleeing for their lives, cannot but make you stomach upsets. A team of UN Stress Counsellors was support each other. “They were fan- think of your own family. You feel you have an extra also busy reassuring people. tastic, sticking together, helping each responsibility and duty to help and protect these When the ship eventually docked at Larnaca Port, other and so practical about the whole people whose lives have been shattered.” the passengers disembarked and peacekeepers assist- situation that they had a positive effect 2nd Lieutenant Jen Jones was on board for the ed in unloading the luggage and resupplying the ship on others around them. They knew runs to both Tyre and Beirut. Jones, who arrived in in just two-and-a-half hours. Then it turned around they were safe and were planning their Cyprus in mid-June, fresh out of the Young Officers’ and headed back out to sea, bound for Beirut. Some next steps.” Training School at Sandhurst, describes her evacuation 200 UN personnel were picked up from Beirut and The second case was an American experience as rewarding. brought safely to Larnaca port. family – husband, wife and two small The M.V. Serenade was the first ship to go south Jones says she was grateful that she was able to children. “When the wife saw me, she since the outbreak of hostilities. Jones notes: “We participate in the rescue operation. All the military burst into tears and fainted. When she were going in blind, with very little knowledge of how personnel involved were volunteers, she notes. Many came round the first thing she said many casualties we would be picking up and what the more offered their assistance, but there was only a was, ‘I’m seeing a friendly face’.” condition of the civilians would be. We were also not limited number of places. The 20 military personnel Donna notes, “The woman was able to certain of the military status”. Approaching Tyre, selected from Sector 2 left the Ledra Palace at 5.30 express her feelings without sanction conscious of large explosions and heavy artillery fire, a.m. on Wednesday morning and returned on Satur- or judgement, and by the time we Jones recalls, “There was sustained bombardment. day after the two trips to Lebanon. “It was a fantastic arrived, she was feeling positive and One of the soldiers stopped counting after 50 strikes.” effort and I am grateful to have been part of it,” Jones more relaxed”. Although she says she did not feel they were per- said. The third case was a Lebanese sonally threatened at any stage of the rescue Station Sergeant Donna Rech, on her second woman married to a Norwegian with operation, the civilians had been in “real danger on a mission with UNFICYP having served in 1997 to 1998, six children whose ages ranged from number of occasions”. Describing the condition of the was one of nine UNPOL officers who assisted in the 20 down to a toddler. “The eldest son civilians evacuees they found at the port in Tyre, she evacuation process. She participated in both UN was translating for her, providing me says only one was severely injured. Most were evacuation runs, and then signed up for a third in a with their personal details when the suffering from lack of food, clean water and sheer voluntary capacity to help Australian government woman suddenly grabbed me by the Stn. Sgt. Donna Rech with Sgt. Darren Wiseman and UN Stress Counsellor exhaustion. efforts to extract Australian citizens from Lebanon. arm and hugged me crying. She Leslie Fair-Page 10 July 2006 – The Blue Beret July 2006 – The Blue Beret 11 eterioration of the situation in Lebanon Response to the call by the crisis centre for volunteers to People are under duress and stress resulted in a decision by United Nations help with various tasks was overwhelming with the whole but if you have made the point of DHeadquarters to evacuate non-essential CrisisCrisis CentreCentre mission wanting to help out in any way possible. Volun- coming out and being there for them staff. UNFICYP was warned over the weekend 15/ teers helped with collecting toys and games for children, it is appreciated. They wanted to 16 July to assist with the planning for a possible as well as being on hand at the various hotels to assist thank us for a very well organised evacuation by sea from Beirut and Tyre. The Coordinates in checking in the evacuees and resolving any and coordinated evacuation,” situation in Tyre in particular was becoming critical Coordinates problems that came up. Christine said. as personnel were cut-off from Beirut, the “For the first two days, we had 24-hour In seven days, Christine says preferred evacuation point. coverage with volunteers and staff – from she had a total of approxi- On Monday 17 July, UNFICYP set up a dedicated EvacuationEvacuation personnel ensuring we had people at the mately 17 hours’ sleep. “I crisis centre and detailed planning commenced. hotels who could feed us information,” didn’t know if it was day or The planning team consisted of a core group of 25 Christine said. night. I didn’t know the time which included military, UNPOL, Personnel, is also justly proud of her own A booth was set up at each hotel of day. But for me to be at Security, Integrated Support Services, Procure- colleagues in Personnel – Maria Wilkins with cell phones so that the evacuees the ship when it arrived ment, Supply, Finance, Civil Affairs and Public and Thalia Constantinou – who were could make a call to their families particularly, the second Information. tasked with receiving the evacuees at and reassure them of their ship having very good Even before the crisis centre was up and the hotels and trouble-shooting any wellbeing. Volunteers also assis- friends on it, seeing running, Chief Civilian Personnel officer Christine problems. Meantime, Ingy Said stood ted with the children, providing them on the deck Botejue-Kyle, anticipating the need for accommo- by at UNFICYP HQ to keep the day-to- toys, games and activities to screaming ‘I’m here, dation, block booked a number of hotels for use by day business of personnel running occupy them. I’m here’, that was evacuees. At the same time she and Field Security smoothly. “For such a small team, we “Comments I had very emotional just Officer Ross Wickware were developing the first did great work.” were that our people to know that they draft of a reception plan for handling incoming have been absolutely were ok. That’s staff and dependents from Lebanon. Things might fantastic. what makes your not have been coordinated at the outset, she says, job worthwhile.” “but it forced us to pull together and work collectively.” “Were there hiccups? Were there flare-ups? Absolutely yes!” But, according to Christine, this was precisely what was needed in order to move ahead and get everyone working from a common platform to ensure support for the people when they got off the boat and to help them to get to their hotels and onward to their eventual destina- tions. Christine has praise for military, police, and the various civilian units involved in the operation. She

Crisis centre trio: COS, Maj. Tom Moon and Ross Wickware Sick bay on board Members of the ship-board UNPOL team Christine Botejue-Kyle with UNFICYP MPs Helping hands as women, children and the elderly disembark 12 July 2006 – The Blue Beret July 2006 – The Blue Beret 13 Continued from previous page Thalia Constantinou only joined Personnel three weeks to his house, fire some rockets off in the direction of Israel ago and is nearly eight months pregnant, yet she was at and then disappear back into the surrounding area. “It is wrong” – UN Emergency the hotels receiving the evacuees. The people were very Shortly thereafter, artillery would rain down all around his upset about what they had left behind and were distres- house, flattening everything turning it into a sea of Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland sed, not knowing what the future held for them. Initially rubble. He wondered how he and his four daughters an Egeland, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, in Lebanon. People in the everybody seemed to hold it together but on the second managed to survive the incessant pounding of Israeli air passed through Larnaca Airport Cyprus, on 22 July villages of the south are day when the Stress Counsellors arrived many broke down. strikes and artillery. His question, repeated again and Jen route to Beirut and, he hoped, to southern trapped and pinned down, “The fact that they were able to contact us on our again, “Why did they leave us there for so long? Doesn’t Lebanon. He was travelling on the SG’s behalf to assess he said. Then there are mobiles 24-hours-a-day was helpful and they did take the UN care about us?” the humanitarian situation and needs and “what the those targeted in Beirut, advantage of this facility. Knowing that there was always “A question that will continue to haunt us,” Ross says. United Nations can do to improve conditions, to come to and the people in Tyre. someone at the other end of the line was reassuring.” Another case that stuck out for Ross was that of the the relief of the people in their hour of greatest need”. Mr. Egeland condemned Being new to UNFICYP before the Lebanon crisis, young man sitting with a blank stare on his face, obvi- Next day in Beirut, Mr. Egeland launched an appeal both the aerial bom- Thalia had not met many UNFICYP staff members, but the ously overcome with emotion. He, his pregnant wife and for $149 million for life-saving relief for the estimated bardments of Lebanon and crisis brought people together. “We worked together as if their young baby were to be returned to Lebanon on the 800,000 people directly affected by the fighting. the “totally indiscriminate we had known each other for years. There was great team ship. He had twice tried to enter Cyprus previously and He told reporters at Larnaca Airport that the UN rain of rockets from Hez- work.” had been deported. “There was no way to intercede with “would like to use Cyprus as one of the staging areas for bollah” in northern Israel. 22 July: USG Egeland at the authorities on their behalf. Despite the odds we tried, our international relief effort,” going to ports such as “It is wrong according Larnaca Airport without success. A tragedy took place in front of our Beirut, Tripoli and Tyre. Of course, he added, “we want to international law to have a disproportionate attack eyes,” Ross said. to have humanitarian corridors going into the country against civilian populations as is now happening in Another, more fortunate, family arrived unauthorised and into the people that are now beleaguered”. He said Lebanon. But it is also totally wrong and condemnable and without proper documentation, lucky to have escaped he was especially worried at the situation of the civilian under international law to use civilian areas to launch the pounding of Tyre. Ross said: “We managed to obtain population caught in the crossfire in the south. military attacks as Hezbollah is doing indiscriminately entry visas for the entire family, extended though it was. Mr. Egeland praised Cyprus for a “really amazing” into civilian areas in Israel. It has to stop. This is no The grandmother grabbed my arm as I walked past, performance in receiving tens of thousands of evacuees natural disaster. This is a man-made crisis. It is a having presented them with the transit visas that meant from the UN and from many countries out of Lebanon. senseless war. It should never have started, and it they would not be sent back to Lebanon on the ship. She Mr. Egeland noted three particularly vulnerable areas should never have been carried out like it is now.” must have been in her late 60s or early 70s, with a grand- child on her knee. She could barely talk, the emotions she had suppressed were fighting to the surface. She must Mission-to-Mission Mission have said thank you five times before I understood what OI (SSM) Pete Hall (FOWO) was charged with she was saying – thank you for saving her family, her getting the supplies secured by Procurement grandchildren, her life. The tiredness and stress that we for UNIFIL re-supply of UNIFIL onto the French were under evaporated with that simple eloquent phrase W Chief of Staff Col. Peter Fraser-Hopewell and Spokesperson naval vessel TCD Siroco. The ship departed from we so often take for granted – thank you.” Brian Kelly look on as Diana Bridger and David Wilkins help Larnaca port port on 24 July. Working with only 24 complete passenger list details at the UNFICYP crisis centre Netha Kreouzos hours notice, UNFICYP personnel, military and civilian Field Security Officer Ross Wickware played a key role alike in Procurement and Supply plus Transport rose to in helping devise the plan of evacuation. For him there the occasion and got the job done. were moments of joy and sorrow throughout the operation. In total, 198,000 litres of water, 52,000 litres of “Members of UNFICYP answered the call to assist the diesel fuel, 100 pallets of food rations, 3,000 litres of evacuees from Lebanon and made me proud to be in the oil, military equipment (flak jackets and helmets), UN,” he said. medical supplies and other gear, including around 20 "I stood at the bottom of the gangway as the evacuees pallets of cleaning materials and toiletries, were came off the ship. There were grandmothers, children, loaded onto the ship. mothers and babies. Soldiers and UNPOL officers were It may have been short notice for such a complex assisting the weak, the frail and the emotionally over- task, but as WOI Hall pointed out, everyone pulled wrought. It was an image that will remain with me. The together and the UNFICYP team got the job done in caring, multi-disciplinary peacekeeper in action, helping time for this crucial sailing. All concerned felt great people in times of crisis. In one quick moment the scene satisfaction when the news came back on 26 July that 24 July: UNFICYP peacekeepers load food, medical, fuel and captured, for me, the essence of what it is we do.” the much needed supplies had reached their des- Ross recalls one UN staff member, tears running down water supplies onto the French military vessel TCD Siroco at tination, safely delivered into grateful UNIFIL hands. Larnaca port his face, recounting the horrors endured during the six days before they were extracted. The distraught staffer Immigration officials working together with UNFICYP CCAO told of how Hezbollah would move into the orchard next Kiki Shiotani, Ersin Ozcoyzan, Netha Kreouzos and Anne Bursey “On the Boat, Off the Boat” On the boat, Off the Boat” was the mantra as Transport Section and Sector MTs to show their true “UNFICYP’s transport services prepared to do their bit in colours. All midi-buses and mini-buses within the support of the evacuation. From the time the order was mission were put on stand-by as the arrival time of M.V. issued this became a logistical operation for the ISS Serenade at Larnaca Port constantly shifted. Additional tasks continuously arrived at dispatch, stretching Transport Unit’s resources to the extreme limits. A convoy of military and civilian drivers departed Nicosia to the port of Larnaca. The port was a hive of activity. However good the planning, last-minute changes were the order of the day, every day. To ensure that individuals reached the correct hotels, colours were allocated to each hotel and vehicle, mostly buses transferring the evacuees to them. As the passengers arrived, tired and anxious to get to their accommodation, the drivers assisted them to the vehi- One familiar face seen here disembarking from the M.V. Sere- cles, carrying their bags and suitcases. The departure nade is that of Simon Butt, who served here as HQ Ops Info while a British Contingent major not too many years ago.Simon area was clogged with coaches and taxis fighting for went on to join the UN and is now the UN’s Security Coordina- SRSG Møller went on board the Louis Cruise Line M.V. Serenade space. Turn-around for buses was approximately 30 tor for the Middle East. He worked round the clock with the to present Captain Demetris Giotsopoulos and his crew with an minutes, which meant most evacuees did not spend too evacuation coordinating and crisis planning group in the refur- UNFICYP plaque, thanking them for an outstanding job carried much time hanging around. Final passengers had bished JOC prior to boarding the M.V. Serenade as the UN offi- out in difficult circumstances. The SRSG also paid tribute to the cial charged with responsibility for all UN personnel on board. Cypriot authorities. Bus ready to go departed by 5.30 a.m. 14 July 2006 – The Blue Beret July 2006 – The Blue Beret 15 The Leaving of Lebanon