Plane loaded with one million euros dispatched to Cyprus

Plane loaded with one million euros dispatched to Cyprus


THE RAF is flying one million euros to provide British armed forces based on the skint island with emergency loans.
Banks in Cyprus are currently closed ahead of a proposed levy on savers - many of whom are Brit servicemen and their families.
The government wants to take cash from residents' accounts so they can secure a loan EU bailout as the country drowns under massive debts.
And it closed banks to stop people from getting their cash out.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the RAF flight, which left this afternoon, will provide people with emergency loans in the event that cash machines and debit cards stop working completely.
The MoD said it is determined to minimise the impact of the Cyprus banking crisis on “our people” and it will consider further shipments if required.
The Cypriot parliament held discussions on the levy and the bailout today but the leading party said it may abstain from any vote and the finance minister has reportedly offered his resignation.
The MoD said that as well as sending out the emergency fund, it is asking personnel if they would prefer this and future months’ salaries to be paid into UK bank accounts.
It said in a statement: “An RAF flight left for Cyprus this afternoon with one million euro on board as a contingency measure to provide military personnel and their families with emergency loans in the event that cash machines and debit cards stop working completely.
“We will keep this under review and consider further shipments if required.
“The MoD is proactively approaching personnel to ask if they want their March, and future months’ salaries paid into UK bank accounts, rather than Cypriot accounts.
“We’re determined to do everything we can to minimise the impact of the Cyprus banking crisis on our people.”