To make use of all the emergency and regular measures that have been taken, the Deputy Minister of Defence, Giannis Kefalogannis, called on all active duty soldiers who are from areas that have been affected by the recent catastrophic fires and floods.

Responding to a relevant topical question from the KKE MP, Nikos Papanastasis, who emphasized the need for immediate assistance from the state with support measures for all conscript soldiers, whose areas have been affected by the recent disasters, Mr. Kefalogiannis pointed out that “if and the government has proceeded to institute comparative relief measures, yet it recognizes that there is much room for improvement on many issues.”

“A series of institutional procedures have been taken regarding the leaves, movements, exceptional transfers and in their implementation to the extent and if necessary, the Ministry of Defense will further contribute to the military personnel from areas where they have been affected by natural disasters”, emphasized Mr. Kefalogiannis, specifying the measures that have already been taken or will be taken.

Relief measures

First: Permission is granted to those who have a family, individual or paternal residence or property in an affected area from God’s day and in fact the amount of the leave is three days per two months of actual service

Second: Personal leave is granted for up to 10 days to those who have a significant problem for its solution and their presence in person is necessary

Third: Five more days of leave were granted to all personnel, military and civilian, of the Armed Forceswhose fortunes have been affected by the recent events in both the regional unity of Evros and Thessaly.

Fourth: For transfers in case of force majeure, such as natural disasters, it is possible to submit a special service report for conscripts in which the elements and reasons for the exceptional transfer will be documented.

The Deputy Minister of Defense also stated that “the political and military leadership decided that the hoplites who will be listed in the next ESO of 2023 and live permanently in a municipality or community in the region of Thessaly, will be placed in units near their place of residence».

Finally, he underlined that “as regards the possibility of granting emergency financial aid for those affected by fires and floods, a special online platform for assistance has already been launchedthrough which all the measures are specified, including the conscripts”.

“Those who are listening to us and are hoplites from those areas that have been affected by the natural disaster, are requested to make use of this procedure”, emphasized Mr. Kefalogiannis.