Bank of Cyprus, the Reaction NGO and members of the SupportCY network, with the support of state services, have pooled their resources and efforts for the 2021-2022 Fire Prevention and Containment Programme.

Information, public awareness and training to members of the public are at the core of the 2021-2022 Fire Prevention and Containment Programme, going under the slogan "It's up to us to never let it happen again." Running for the next 14 months, the programme has just been launched by Bank of Cyprus, Reaction and members of SupportCY, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ombudsman, the Commissioner for the Development of Mountain Communities, as well as the Fire Service and the Forest Department.

The fire prevention and containment programme runs until 30 September 2022. Other than its basic objectives, it involves the provision of equipment to the recently damaged mountain areas in Larnaca and Limassol, other mountain areas and isolated communities, and to teams of volunteers. It also involves training actions geared at the general public and children.

 A number of actions are in the pipeline:

• Major boost to Reaction-SupportCY's Crisis & Disasters Support Center (CDSC

• Procurement and launch - over the next few days - of drones to help with locating outbreaks of fire

• Gear has been secured for volunteers, who will be carrying out more patrols of forests and the countryside, in cooperation with the relevant state agencies, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ombudsman. Involves procurement of fuel, firefighting equipment, and vehicles.

• Fire prevention and containment gear will be offered to the recently damaged mountain areas in Larnaca and Limassol, as well as to other mountain areas and isolated communities, in cooperation with the Commissioner for the Development of Mountain Communities

• Cleanups are being scheduled at High-Risk Points, in collaboration with local government authorities and state agencies

• A process is underway to offer an educational programme geared at children, but also adults; its purpose is to inform, educate and train people in fire prevention. The programme is being undertaken in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, specifically the Environment and Sustainable Development Training Unit

• As already announced, aid will be provided to the three schools in the areas damaged by fires in Larnaca and Limassol; the aid will last throughout the school year, and is taking place in collaboration with the Ministry of Education

 Other than Bank of Cyprus and Reaction, the following organisations are participating or providing support to the 2021-2022 Fire Prevention and Containment Programme:

IVECO - CTC Group / CTC Automotive, Remedica, General Insurance, Eurolife, DHLCyprus, Parimatch, Leroy Merlin, Zorbas Bakeries, Energy Intel Services, Petrolina, Grant Thornton Cyprus, Superhome Centre, Baker Tilly Klitou &Partners, Infocredit Group, Vioatriki Group, Hermes Airports, Antonis Zenios Developments, Arnold’sDigital Printers, ACS Courier, ORB Communications, Nicosia Mall, Kotsovolos, Papaellinas Group, NIPD Genetics, Fire Safety Training Providers Cyprus (FSTP), Volunteer Emergency Search & Rescue Unit (ΕΤΕΑ).

 Elli Ioannidou, Bank of Cyprus' Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, thanked Marios Stavrou, the president of Reaction, for his substantive contribution in designing and coordinating the fire prevention programme. She likewise thanked all the businesses supporting the programme. In her remarks, Ms Ioannidou said: "Once again, SupportCY's activities highlight the dynamic of what makes a successful partnership in targeted actions helping to support the community's needs."