Government Spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, on Thursday announced that the State, as a first measure to address the consequences of the devastating fire that hit the Limassol district on Wednesday, would provide immediate financial support to community councils affected by the wildfires to cover emergency needs, the full restoration of the damage to the properties of those affected as well as temporary housing for those affected.
In statements at the Presidential Palace, the Spokesperson expressed the State’s “deep sorrow” for the loss during the devastating fires “of two of our fellow citizens”, noting that the situation in the country since yesterday was “unprecedented”.
“We are going through a difficult time, with multiple simultaneous fire outbreaks that have caused damage to the property of our fellow citizens and endangered human lives and the natural environment,” Letymbiotis said.
He noted that President, Nikos Christodoulides, had telephone conversations on Thursday with all the heads of the Community Councils of the directly affected communities, the President of the Limassol Union of Communities, as well as the Commissioner for the Development of Mountainous Areas.
Based on the discussions, he said, the government was announcing, as a first step, immediate financial support to the Community Councils to cover emergency needs, full restoration of damage to the property of those affected and temporary housing for those affected, including covering immediate basic needs in consultation and cooperation with the community leaders.
The Spokesperson expressed the State’s “sincere thanks and gratitude” to all those who are working tirelessly and with self-sacrifice on the front lines of the battle against the fires. “Firefighters, members of the Forestry Department, the Civil Defence, the National Guard, the Police, the District Administration and volunteers are fighting a titanic battle under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions, he added.
Asked by a journalist whether the assistance of the relevant European mechanism has been requested the Spokesperson said it was requested, adding that, currently 14 primary and three secondary aircraft were in operational readiness, while that in addition to these, four Jordanian aircraft have already arrived in the country. He noted that two from Egypt, two from Israel and two from Spain were also expected to arrive.
Letymbiotis also pointed out that aircraft from the United Kingdom were also assisting in the efforts, while that assistance was expected from other countries through the European Mechanism.
He said crews were struggling to extinguish the fire in three locations, noting that the effort to secure as much help as possible “will not stop”.
In response to a journalist’s remark that last June the Government stated that Cyprus was ready to deal with any fires, the Spokesperson said that “from the very beginning, all plans and protocols that had been drawn up, were activated, “under unprecedented conditions for our country”.
He added that the high temperatures, strong winds and drought, made the situation even more difficult.
At the moment, he said, over 250 people and over 75 vehicles were operating, and that these numbers do not include the many volunteers who are assisting in the efforts.
Asked to cοmment on other officials’ statements regarding arson, the Spokesperson said that there are some claims that are being evaluated and that this information is being investigated by the Police.
To a question, in relation to the statements of the Turkish Cypriot leader that he offered to help, Letymbiotis said that the Government was informed through the Negotiator for the Cyprus problem, but also about the intention of the “mayor” of Turkish-occupied Nicosia Mehmet Harmanci for help, but that according to communication with the Fire Department, there was an adequacy of ground forces. The needs were mainly in aircraft, the Spokesperson said.
