Cyprus has deployed the National Guard and police to protect veterinary officers carrying out animal culls after staff were subjected to verbal and physical violence at farms in Kofinou and Pachna, as the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak continues to exact a heavy toll on the island’s livestock.
Yesterday’s coordination began with an expanded session at the Ministry of Defence, followed by a meeting at Veterinary Services headquarters with Police and National Guard representatives to settle organisational details, operational coordination and the deployment of necessary machinery.
A ministerial meeting also took place yesterday, attended by the Ministers and Directors-General of the Defence, Agriculture and Justice ministries, together with the senior leadership of the Police and the National Guard. The meeting confirmed the active involvement of the security forces on the front line of the crisis.
Security forces will protect Veterinary Services officers during culling operations and grave-digging, escort blood-sampling teams, and enforce strict surveillance of the Green Line to prevent illegal movement of animals from the occupied north — which the government suspects as the main entry point for the virus.
6,000 animals still to be culled
Approximately 6,000 animals across 15 units are still awaiting culling — 11 farms in Larnaca, three in Nicosia and one in Pachna in the Limassol district. Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said culls at infected farms must be completed within the next 24 hours.
Authorities are facing strong resistance from farmers, particularly following incidents at Pachna. Veterinary Services officers have been subjected to verbal and physical violence, prompting the decision to bring in security forces.
Scale of the outbreak
Official figures show the virus has hit 120 livestock units in total — 14 cattle units, 103 sheep and goat units, and three pig units in western Nicosia.
To date, 45,180 sheep and goats have been culled, representing 11.5% of the total population, along with 3,018 cattle (3.5%) and 24,483 pigs (7.8%).
Some 120 disinfection checkpoints are operating across Cyprus. Twenty have a permanent police presence; the remainder are subject to regular patrols. The National Guard is expected to take up positions at additional checkpoints.
Penalties to be dramatically increased
The government is moving to sharply increase penalties for violations. A proposal going to Cabinet today provides for administrative fines of up to €100,000 and judicial fines of up to €250,000.
Twenty-seven administrative fines totalling €91,540 have already been issued. Six serious violation cases have been referred to police for criminal investigation, two of them involving the movement of animals for slaughter in Kiti.
The government is alarmed by reports that the main source of the virus was illegal transactions and the movement of animals from the occupied north. Coordination meetings were held yesterday with the aim of faithfully implementing the decisions taken last Tuesday at the Presidential Palace, involving the President, the Epidemiological Team and farming organisations.
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