Mitsotakis: He presented the national civil protection program “Aegis” – What he said ahead of the fire season
For climate crisis he spoke Kyriakos Mitsotakis at an event of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection for the “Aegis” program, stating that “the crisis is unfortunately already present threatening lives, property and critical infrastructure.”
The Prime Minister referred to extreme phenomena of the time noting that nothing will be like yesterday and that it is our obligation to adapt to the new conditions. “Prevention, suppression and recovery become a necessary tripartite with priority being given to the protection of human life,” stressed Mr. Mitsotakis, who thanked the unsung heroes on the front line who put out fires, who save lives in floods, who intervene after every earthquake and with self-sacrifice they fight all battles.
Mitsotakis: How? fires are dealt with in the first year
Mr. Mitsotakis thanked the volunteers individually and noted that the experience of the past years gives us strength and knowledge for the fire fighting season which has already begun. He referred to the fires that occurred in March and April and spoke of a difficult fire fighting season. “As far as possible we have done our best to find us in the summer as prepared as possible,” he continued.
The prime minister also thanked the forest services officials, noting that it is a success that “we managed to marry the forest services with the fire service”.
The Prime Minister thanked volunteers and officials of the forestry services © KOSTAS TSIRONIS/ APE-MEP
Mr. Mitsotakis referred in detail to the new more strictly operational doctrine with the aim of dealing with fires in the first year.
“I would like to remind you that the penalties have become more severe for arsonists, but also for those who cause negligently, they may lack the intention but the result is devastating. It is worth repeating that all forest lands that are burned are automatically declared reforestable,” he added.
Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized the importance of prevention, especially in the antinero program. “It is the first time that so many resources have been spent on preventive actions,” he said, while saying that “there is individual responsibility in cleaning up the plots.”
THE technology and artificial intelligence at the heart of prevention
The prime minister emphasized that the use of technology and artificial intelligence adds useful weapons and we are at the forefront of testing new prediction models, whether we are talking about fires or floods.
“You will never hear from me, nor from the minister, that we are ready. Nor that civil protection can become a field of political controversy. We do the best. Sometimes the battle with nature can be unequal,” he added and cited the images from Dubai as an example, noting that the water that fell there was 1/3 or ¼ of what fell in the storm Daniel.
“We are not facing the new reality with hands down. The Greece of 2024 is nothing like the Greece of 2019 when Civil Protection was a marginal secretariat and housed in a dilapidated building, with 112 inactive. And yet we have made significant progress. We have acquired a body that has robustness and efficiency. It is an effort that bears the stamp of Nikos Hardalias and Christos Stylianides. A project that Vassilis Kikilias continues with the compass of the “Aegis” project. The largest Civil Protection program that the country runs,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that his funding comes from the Recovery Fund, the NSRF and the European Investment Bank.
On the occasion of the new Kananders that the country will get, Mr. Mitsotakis said that he bows to the operators of the old firefighting aircraft and mentioned, among other things, that we have made a decision to get medium-sized helicopters, so that we can intervene as quickly as possible in the field of operations.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the event of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection for the “AEGIS” program © KOSTAS TSIRONIS/ APE-MBE
“This equipment would not have existed if we had not secured the corresponding funds from Brussels. The Recovery Fund alone has allocated resources of 36 billion euros to our country. Half of the amount is direct grants and the rest low-interest loans. Let everyone understand why what we will vote on June 9 concerns every Greek woman and every Greek man. It will be decided which political force is able to secure resources for the country, which will be able to claim a more flexible common agricultural policy, which will shape Europe’s stance on immigration. Greek men and women will declare whether they want our country to remain on the path of progress it has been following for five years, away from experiments and adventures”, Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized.
“The very title of Civil Protection acquires an essential content, reflecting the need for political stability, so that the country can continue its upward trajectory, with society stepping forward confidently to get even closer to Europe at all levels,” he underlined the Prime Minister.
See the event for the “Aegis” program:
