The Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, held a meeting with the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Network of Resilient Cities (ELDAP) this morning. The president of ELDAP and Mayor of Ellinikos-Argyroupoli, Yannis Constantatos handed over to the Minister a costed study, which concerns actions and equipment supplies for the 140 municipalities of the Network, of which, as Mr. Constantatos it 88% has suffered at least a major natural disaster.

Mr. Kikilias thanked the mayors, pledged that he will study the proposal of ELDAP and will contact the co-competent ministries, in order to discuss on a realistic basis which actions can be implemented. The minister emphasized that the key to dealing with natural disasters is prevention as well as on an economic level, 1 euro invested in prevention “saves” 8 euros from compensations given for disaster recovery due to extreme events, which are occurring more and more frequently and with greater intensity due to the climate crisis. He also pointed out that natural disasters are dealt with through cooperation and this was proven during this year’s fire fighting season, where all civil protection agencies (Fire Brigade, ELAS, Armed Forces, Coast Guard, Foresters, Local Self-Government of the first and second degree, volunteers, etc. ) trained together before the start of firefighting and during the summer worked together in coordination all together in the field following the new doctrine of the Fire Brigade for forest fire fighting, which is based on the immediate intervention of the ground forces and aerial means from the first moment the fire starts, the use of drones for quick detection of the fire, etc.

Finally, the Minister informed about the equipment and technological systems that the country is expected to receive this year through the AEGIS program, which can also be used by the municipalities for the prevention and management of natural disasters.

The meeting was also attended by the Vice-President of the Network & Mayor of Argytheas Andreas Stergiou, the Mayor of Viannos Pavlos Baritakis, the Mayor of Epidaurus Anastasios Chronis, the Mayor of Paiana Isidoros Madis and the Mayor of Mantoudi – Limni – Agia Anna Georgios Tsapourniotis together with the scientific staff of ELDAP.