CYPRUS CONTINUES to offer help to Greece, which has been victim to devastating fires for the past six days and has mourned the loss of 64 lives.
So far, Cyprus has sent 12 firefighting vehicles and 137 firefighters and volunteers, while Cypriot missions fought the flames in Aliveri and Mount Seta of Evia, Matesi in Elea, Lala area and Foloi forest near ancient Olympia in Peloponnesus.
In a late-night telephone call on Tuesday, the leader of opposition party PASOK Giorgos Papandreou thanked President Tassos Papadopoulos for the help Cyprus has offered over the past few days.
Cyprus’ financial assistance to Greece continued yesterday.
Donations
The Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CyTA) deposited 200,000 euro in an account opened to help those affected by the fires.
The Authority also decided to purchase electrical equipment for two Greek lyceums and cover the costs to rebuild an athletic stadium.
Furthermore, CyTA will cover the telecommunication costs for the Cypriot fire fighters and volunteers in Greece, while it has also opened a Charity Direct line for donations, which will be announced once it is up and running.
The Cyprus Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KEVE), along with the Local Chambers of Nicosia, Limassol, Famagusta, Larnaca and Paphos, decided to donate 20,000 euro and called on all the island’s businesses to contribute to the bank accounts that have been opened for the cause.
“The business world of Cyprus is observing with grief the destruction that is taking place in Greece from the continuous fires and is expressing its wholehearted supported towards our affected fellow human beings for the unjust loss of human lives, the loss of private properties and the ecological destruction of the country’s natural beauty,” read a KEVE announcement yesterday.
The donation will be given to the Greek Ambassador in Cyprus next week.
The Pancyprian Medical Association (PIS) announced it would create a list of voluntary doctors, who are prepared to go the areas in Greece that were affected by the fires.
Furthermore, PIS said it had pronounced a money-collection among its members to gather money for those affected.
PIS also announced its plans to contribute to the construction of a medical centre that will welcome those injured in the fires.
The Cyprus Union of Municipalities decided to donate 100,000 euros to help the areas affected by the fires.
The Union’s president, Limassol Mayor Andreas Christou, sent the Greek Union of Municipalities a letter expressing Cyprus support for Greece in these difficult times.
He also referred to the immediate financial aid the Union was willing to offer.
The Refugees and Repatriates of Cyprus made a public plea for donations of basic need items.
As the union announced yesterday, the Red Cross in Athens is in the process of creating shelters to house 1,000 refugees in its warehouses and is accepting donations of food, clothing, mattresses, beds, sheets, blankets, pillows and pillow cases, cleaning products, kitchen utensils and any other items that could be useful to someone who has lost everything.
“It takes a lot of effort, money and a lot of soul to rebuild a burnt-down home. We know because we have been through it too,” read an announcement by the union. “In Peloponnesus, people are in need of everything, because they have lost everything. Let us all help as much as each of us can.”
The Confederation of Cyprus workers (SEK) began a Pancyprian charity collection among its thousands of members, while it announced it would be contributing 20,000 euro to the cause.
In an announcement yesterday, SEK called on its members to “embrace” its attempt to help the suffering Greek public.
“It is with pain and devastation that we have watched in the past few days the blaze burn down the natural beauty of Greece, causing huge problems to the entire country,” it said.
The Nicosia Race Club yesterday donated 20,500 euro to Greece. The money was handed over to Justice Minister Sophocles Sophocleous, who will in turn give it to the Greek Ambassador in Cyprus, Demetris Ralli, today.
“The Nicosia Race Club is expressing its total support to the Greek government and public, and hopes for a swift and effective correction of the devastation caused by the fires,” read an announcement yesterday, adding the club’s special condolences to the relatives of those lost in the blaze.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry yesterday warned the public to beware of charity collectors who are in fact unregistered and illegal.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Lazaros Savvides, issued an announcement saying that in order to collect money for charity, an organisation needs authorisation from the ministry first.
So he called on the media to avoid publicising charities without making sure the specific organisation had received the ministry’s approval.
“For any further information or specifications, the media and public can consult the Interior Ministry on 22-867800, the local authorities or the police,” Savvides concluded.
