Flights carrying the first shipment of medicines and consumables from Cyprus to Lebanon left on Friday morning.

A second shipment is expected to depart on Saturday, according to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).

In a statement on Thursday the foreign ministry announced the dispatch of close to three tons of medicines and consumables to Lebanon after Lebanese authorities communicated with officials about the serious needs of the neighbouring state’s medical system.

The dispatch of aid was coordinated closely with the health ministry, the authorities said.

“Cyprus will continue its systematic effort to support people affected by the current circumstances in the broader region of the Middle East,” the foreign ministry said in its press release.

The permanent secretaries of the foreign and health ministries, Andreas Kakouris and Christina Yiannaki respectively, as well as Lebanese ambassador in Nicosia Claude El Hajal attended the gathering point of the humanitarian aid at Larnaca airport.

Speaking to the media, El Hajal thanked the Cyprus government and President Nikos Christodoulides personally for the support.

“The moment we asked for it, we received approval for the dispatch of medical aid to Lebanon,” she said.

The Lebanese ambassador said that her country has suffered more than 10,000 attacks from Israel since September 23, when the situation escalated.

“Over 2,000 people have lost their lives, 10,000 injured, and more than one million displaced.”

Meanwhile some hospitals in Lebanon have ceased to function, while those that are still operating are under immense stress.

Asked how many Lebanese nationals have sought temporary refuge in Cyprus over the past few weeks, the ambassador said she did not have the hard numbers.

She did say several Lebanese have come here on short-term visas, while others own apartments or have family in Cyprus.

“We’ve got about 20 families who reached out to the [Lebanese] embassy and have registered their children in schools in Cyprus.”