United Rescue Cyprus Launches New Volunteer Emergency Response System

Cyprus has introduced a new volunteer emergency response initiative: United Rescue Cyprus. The pilot project has launched in Limassol, where a specially trained team of citizens is already prepared to respond to emergencies.

United Rescue Cyprus is an innovative volunteer-based rapid response system inspired by the successful United Hatzalah model in Israel, which operates with over 9,000 volunteers. In major cities, this approach has achieved emergency response times as fast as 90 seconds.

The goal of United Rescue Cyprus is to bridge the critical time gap between the onset of an emergency and the arrival of professional medical services. Organizers stress that the project is not just a new emergency response model—it’s a movement built on compassion, innovation, and shared civic responsibility.

The Limassol pilot team includes doctors, nurses, and trained volunteers. The program is expected to gradually expand across the island, aiming to provide rapid assistance to anyone in need—no matter where they are.

Citizens are encouraged to take part in training and become early members of the network, with the opportunity to step up as first responders and make a real difference in their communities. United Rescue Cyprus offers its services free of charge and without discrimination.

The ultimate aim is to create an island-wide system capable of providing help within 90 seconds, strengthening Cyprus's healthcare infrastructure and ensuring that no one is left alone during a life-threatening emergency.

For more information on how to support or get involved, visit www.rescuecyprus.org.