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- Ελληνικά
The Department of Forests of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment announces that, by order of the Director of the Department of Forests, Dr, Rural Development and Environment Dr. Maria Panayiotou, assistance is being sent, through the European Union (EU) Civil Protection Mechanism, to the Republic of North Macedonia to address the forest fires in the areas of Chashka and Sveti Nikole. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Konstantinos Kombos, was also informed about this.
The request of the EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre concerned the dispatch of two aircraft from Cyprus to the Republic of North Macedonia to respond to the forest fires in the above-mentioned areas.
The request of the EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre concerned the dispatch of two aircraft from Cyprus to the Republic of North Macedonia to respond to the forest fires in the above-mentioned areas.
The mission consists of two Air Tractor planes of the Forestry Department, with four crew members and five ground support staff.
The departure of the planes took place today, 7/8/2024 at 10:15am, from Paphos Airport to Skopje International Airport, with a stopover at Rhodes Airport for refuelling.
It is estimated that the mission will be in the Republic of North Macedonia around 5:00pm, where it will be briefed and receive details of the mission, which will start early the following morning, 8/8/2024. The mission will also remain and operate in the Republic of North Macedonia for five days.
These aircraft are equipped with appropriate refueling and foam equipment. They are also equipped with appropriate telecommunication equipment both for communication with the Airborne Unit in Larnaca and for transferring information and photographic material to it.
These two aircraft have been included in the rescEU mechanism since mid-June 2024, under which Member States are funded to reinforce their disaster response assets with the commitment to use these assets for the benefit of other Member States when the need arises, and this is their first mission.
The Republic of Cyprus has over time been responsive in providing assistance to neighbouring countries, either by making use of the provisions of inter-state agreements or within the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
(PS/AS)
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