One year on from the deadly fires: AKEL stands with those affected

 

22 July 2026, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

To mark the first anniversary of the deadly fires that broke out in the Limassol district, a delegation from AKEL held a wide-ranging meeting yesterday with the local community leaders of the fire-stricken areas, the vice-president of the Union of Cyprus Communities and the president of the Limassol District Local Government Organisation.

During the meeting, there was an extensive exchange of views on the progress made in implementing the support measures for the fire-affected areas announced by the government, the problems affected communities and citizens still face, the outstanding issues that remain, as well as the preparedness issue for the prevention and management of similar incidents.

AKEL’s Parliamentary Spokesperson, Giorgos Loucaides, recalled the steadfast support and the numerous initiatives undertaken by AKEL all through the previous period to assist the fire-stricken areas and their residents, both at parliamentary and social levels.

Furthermore, the AKEL delegation was briefed on cases involving citizens whose applications remain pending, on delays observed in the completion of procedures, and on commitments made to the Community Councils that must be fulfilled. It was emphasised that the government must actively support the requests of citizens and Community Councils by taking the necessary measures to speed up and simplify existing procedures and the support schemes of the relevant Ministries, thereby helping those affected to return to normality.

At the same time, the delegation thanked the government departments and agencies, local government bodies and all public organisations for their contribution, from the day the deadly fires broke out until today, in tackling the situation and managing the vast amount of work required to enable those affected to repair the damage.

Giorgos Loucaides reiterated AKEL’s commitment to continue to stand in practical solidarity with the Community Councils and the citizens of the fire-stricken areas, exercising the necessary parliamentary and political scrutiny, until their demands are fully met.

The AKEL delegation included Giannakis Gavriel, AKEL MP and Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Giorgos Georgiou, AKEL Limassol District Secretary, Andros Kaukalias, a member of the AKEL Political Bureau, Argentoula Ioannou and Ephraim Christou, AKEL MPs for Limassol, and other district militants of the Party.