For the changes promoted by the upcoming bill, the upgrade of “112”, the measures taken to reduce the risk of extreme weather events, as well as for the interventions made with the aim of coordinating all the agencies involved in prevention and management of natural disasters, said the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, in an interview he gave to Open.

When asked about the Special Mobilization of Civil Protection regime in which he declared the Region of Attica and 24 municipalities to clean the streams of the basin, and why not enough parts of them have been cleaned, he answered: “What does special mobilization of Civil Protection mean? It means that with the emergency – with three offers – the Municipalities and the Region can immediately mobilize and have contractors clean the streams from the garbage and from the transported materials that come with the rains from the mountains. Indeed, the Region has also reacted and we saw in Kifissos important opening and cleaning projects and some mayors have reacted, while some others have not. There are institutions in the country, executive, legislative and judiciary. If necessary, I will go to the Prosecutor’s Office of the Supreme Court to discuss who will be the control of all those who do not want to do their job. However, there are also many who do their job and this pleases us and makes us very happy. The value of human life is above all and that’s why, as you see even in cruises, even in excess of our powers, we go and will continue to visit places which we consider to be dangerous and draw attention and pressure, so that the basics can be done, i.e. cleaning”.

He also noted that the studies were approved by the Ministry of Environment, in order for the Ministry of Infrastructure to proceed with the construction of the anti-flood works which, however, need time as they are large and heavy projects.

In fact, the minister thanked for the cooperation the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Staikouras with whom he met two days ago in a meeting on the flood protection of Attica and added: “Our planning cannot be short-term in everything that has to do with the infrastructures that are being redesigned based on the climate crisis. The government for Thessaly did this, it presented a master plan of what is required.

In my opinion the most important thing I heard is first of all that some streams that have been dammed in the past should be cleared. This also applies to some areas of Attica. A major issue is what has not been demarcated in the upper part of Kifisos”, said Mr. Kikilias, noting that houses and even factories have been built on these streams.

Given that extreme weather events will be more and more frequent due to the intensifying climate crisis, Mr. Kikilias pointed out that Civil Protection is modernizing and changing both at the level of infrastructure, as well as at the level of planning and prevention.

“As a government, we put weight and invest in prevention. We believe that if you intervene in prevention, you make it possible to reduce the effects of a phenomenon and thus save lives.

I would like to ask for the support of all citizens and all agencies for the protection of citizens in this effort, in this very large reform,” said the minister, underlining that the bill that will be passed next month foresees, among other things, the obligation of regions and municipalities to staff civil protection offices with permanent staff, who will be trained by the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection and the Fire Brigade to prevent and deal with natural disasters.

In the bill, as he said, a special digital platform is provided in which citizens who have houses with outdoor areas, will be obliged to declare that they have cleaned them for fire prevention, and where negligence is found, fines will be imposed, while local authorities will also have obligations as to the control part. In addition, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Energy, as he mentioned, additional fire zones will be opened. The possibility of fire zones will also be available for DEDDIE and ADMIE, where there are high voltage cables, while in the camps there will be an obligation to clean up a perimeter of 100 meters “so that we don’t experience again what we experienced in the summer”, as the minister emphasized.

In addition, “112” is being upgraded, which the minister described as “an achievement, a valuable tool and means to reach citizens and inform them en masse”. “Slowly “112”, which did not exist, is entering our culture. Like it didn’t exist in Maui and we had hundreds of dead, just like it didn’t exist in Germany 3 years ago and 300 people drowned. Now, with the AEGIS program, the “112” service is upgraded, other notifications and functions are added to the hardware and software. We have to use the new technology, we have to be able to protect our fellow citizens. These are not the times we lived in some years ago. It is a time of continuous crises,” said Mr. Kikilias.

Regarding the AEGIS program, he emphasized: “The state decides first of all to upgrade and create a Ministry of Civil Protection and Climate Crisis, and to run with the vision of the Prime Minister, the completion of this Ministry and the AEGIS program -amounting to 2.1 billion euros- so that we can get sensors, drones, satellites, airplanes, helicopters, use artificial intelligence, the digitization of the whole system and be able to protect citizens”.

Finally, regarding the next anti-fire season, he specifically stated: “Our work for the 2024 anti-fire season has already started for us since October 31, when the previous one ended. All work must be done in this five month period. It’s going to be five months of hard work getting ready for summer while dealing with floods, snow and whatever else comes up. It is a ministry of crisis, everyone should understand that. Yes, the state will be more ready, yes, the absolute does not exist, but we are trying to improve ourselves permanently in prevention and response, to learn from our mistakes, to become better and we want the help and support of the citizens in this, as and first and second grade OTAs. It’s a collective effort.”