88-year-old donates pension to Greece

By Evie Andreou

A PENSIONER living in Limassol, 88-year-old Onoufrios Michaelides, has sent Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras his monthly pension of €505 as a contribution toward the Greek national fund.

He said he sent the money to express his support and gratitude.

Speaking on Monday, Michaelides explained how he felt compelled to do something after seeing all the pictures of Greeks forced to stand in lines for hours so that they could withdraw the maximum sum of €60 per day allowed from the ATMs.

He wrote a letter to Tsipras to express his support and enclosed a cheque for €505, his monthly pension.

“Comrade Alexis, please accept this small amount for the benefit of the national economy fund, … as an appreciation of your tireless but also heroic efforts to keep the honour and dignity of the Greek people, which is being so brutally fought by our powerful ‘partners’…,” the letter said.

Michaelides, who is a refugee from Famagusta and keeps a small domestic appliances shop, told the CyBC that what moved him especially is when he saw pensioners, “people my age, to stand outside the banks trying to get the €60”.

“This gesture was completely spontaneous, this is how I felt that moment and I did what I did with all my good will without being influenced by circumstances,” he said.

He added that he feels grateful towards Greece because after becoming a refugee, his three daughters studied for free in Greece.

“It is not a large sum but the Greek government can utilise it where they are more needed, to orphans, or to poor families. I hope this deed will be a motive for others who have more than me and could help the Greek people,” he said.