The main mission of Civil Defence Force is the performance of various humanitatian tasks intended to protect the civilian population against the dangers, and help it to recover from the immediate effects of hostilities or disaster as well as to provide the conditions necessary for its survival.

Civil Defence Force is organized by the establishment of civil defence units in almost all the urban areas and all the villages near the cease fire line. Most of the units are maned in their majority by conscripts and volunteers. The Cyprus Civil Defence members which are apportioned in the various units receive a basic training and are later trained and positioned in different divisions of the Civil Defence. These different divisions are the First Aid, the Telecommunication Section, the Welfare Section and the Fire Fighting, rescue and the Neighbourhood Watch Sections.

The Minister of Interior, on behalf of the Council of Ministers is responsible for the implementation of the Civil Defence Law and the relevant Regulations and has the overall supervision and control of the Civil Defence System. He also, undertakes the co-ordination of the services and organizations which are declared as “essential” for civil defence purposes.

A few years ago the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, launched a major review of its civil protection system, beginning with the amendment of relevant legislation. The system relies heavily on contingency planning made by all the Vital Services and Local authorities including civil defence, in order to cope with the effects of an emergency situation.

Some basic elements of our current programmes, are the strengthening of the civil defence service in terms of organization, man power and equipment, the establishment of a Central Information and Control Centre on a 24 hour basis, the improvement of education training and awareness at all levels and other supportive programmes.

Cyprus actively participates in European Unions Civil Protection Mechanism and harmonises where necessary national policies and programmes with the Acquis Communitaire.