Donations totalling €890,000 collected from businesses and members of the public following the devastating wildfires that struck the Limassol district in July 2025 will be distributed directly to affected communities for projects of their choosing, President Nikos Christodoulides announced on Saturday.
The announcement was made during a meeting in the village of Pachna with local community leaders to review progress in repairing damage caused by the fires.
At the meeting, Christodoulides outlined a comprehensive support plan with a total budget of around €60 million aimed at assisting affected residents, restoring property and infrastructure and supporting local economic recovery.
The president said €400,000 had been allocated immediately after the fires to cover the most urgent needs of the communities, while a further €850,000 was provided to strengthen the operational capacity of fire-affected communities.
Firefighting vehicles are also expected to be supplied this year to 17 communities through a public tender.
He also announced that the €890,000 raised through donations would not remain with the central government but would instead be distributed among the affected communities.
“These funds will be allocated to all of you and used for projects that the communities themselves choose,” the president said, adding that the distribution would begin immediately.
Christodoulides reiterated his sorrow over the loss of two people during the fires, saying their memory was a reminder that behind every disaster are individuals, families and communities facing hardship.
He thanked community leaders, volunteers, businesses and state services for their cooperation and support during what he described as a continuing “titanic effort” to rebuild the area.
Immediate financial assistance of €2.3 million was provided to about 300 families whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged with 246 adults and 88 children housed in temporary accommodation.
The funds helped cover temporary accommodation, basic needs and psychological support.
A rent subsidy scheme introduced in September allows affected families to receive support for up to two years.
By March 5, 2026, 134 families had benefited from the programme, with 89 still receiving assistance.
Social services have also provided guidance and financial assistance to around 280 families to address urgent or specialised needs.
Regarding property damage, Christodoulides said about 940 applications had been assessed under what he described as “the most extensive restoration scheme ever implemented in Cyprus for wildfire damage”.
Compensation payments are estimated at around €30 million.
Authorities recorded damage to 520 homes, of which 215 were completely destroyed and 305 suffered partial damage.
In the agricultural sector, around €3.3 million has been paid in compensation to 1,435 farmers and livestock breeders affected by the fires. Two additional schemes worth a combined €9 million were launched to help revive agricultural activity in the region.
So far, about 1,140 applications have been submitted, with €2.5 million already paid to 842 beneficiaries.
The president also said rent had been waived for about 250 lease agreements involving Turkish Cypriot and state-owned agricultural land from August 2025 to July 2026.
Infrastructure restoration has also progressed, with the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) providing free electricity bills for two months – worth up to €500 per household – to those affected by the wildfires.
Works worth €300,000 have also been carried out on water supply networks, while grants have been offered to communities for the purchase of generators.
Environmental restoration efforts include waste management projects costing €220,000, flood protection works valued at €485,000, and measures for wildlife protection.
Tree planting and vegetation management programmes are also underway.
Support has also been provided to businesses, with €870,000 paid to 31 companies for destroyed raw materials, goods and supplies, and €640,000 for damage to vehicles and machinery.
Workers and self-employed individuals affected by business closures also received monthly compensation for three months, totalling €421,000.
Tourism businesses in the affected areas received a one-off payment of €1,000 per bed across 27 establishments, amounting to €127,000, as well as additional financial support based on their turnover.
Authorities have also begun restoration work on cultural monuments following inspections of listed ancient sites in the area. Roughly €50,000 was allocated to support cultural events in local communities and €20,000 through a cultural decentralisation programme.
Christodoulides added that the government has decided to restructure the institutional framework for managing natural disasters and to establish a new civil protection mechanism to improve future responses.
“With the same sense of responsibility with which we responded to the challenges that arose – the consequences of the fire – we will respond to the needs of those affected by this current difficult situation,” he said, referring to the problems facing the livestock sector.
“These are difficult times, and bold decisions are needed. On Monday at the Cabinet meeting we will decide on a specific plan, just as we did in this case, which will be made public so that all those affected are aware,” he said.
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