The EU has allocated €2.3 million for Cyprus’ recovery after the July wildfires

The European Commission has allocated €2.3 million from the European Union Solidarity Fund to help Cyprus recover from the large-scale wildfires that broke out in July in the Limassol and Paphos districts, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto said on Saturday.

According to him, the allocated funds will cover emergency operations, infrastructure restoration, housing and recovery works.

The wildfires in the Limassol and Paphos districts started simultaneously in July. The fire in the Limassol district claimed two lives, burned an area of 124 square kilometers and destroyed more than 700 buildings.

Earlier, Cypriot members of the European Parliament demanded greater assistance from the EU in combating fires and improving preparedness for future emergencies. The discussions concerned the work of the EU civil protection and disaster response mechanism (rescEU) and proposals to establish a European firefighting center in Cyprus, as previously mentioned by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, described this initiative as important.