95% of families affected by the Limassol fire have received one-time payments — President

According to President Nikos Christodoulidis, 95% of families forced to leave their homes due to the July forest fire in the Limassol district have already received one-time compensations. Official payments were made by the government and announced ahead of the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

The President noted that 10 cases are still in the final approval stage: families are expected to provide the necessary documents to receive the funds. The process of paying housing subsidies to tenants is also ongoing: of 115 applications, 85 have been processed, and payments are expected to reach applicants' bank accounts by Thursday.

The ETEK Scientific and Technical Chamber inspected 615 of 718 partially or fully damaged buildings; compensations will be paid at market value. The Ministry of Agriculture transferred €3.2 million as reimbursements to 1,311 farmers and livestock breeders. Employees and self-employed individuals whose businesses are temporarily inactive receive salaries for up to three months; by August 31, 194 people had received payments.

Residents and businesses in affected areas are exempt from the annual municipal tax this year — the amount will be covered by the state. According to Minister of Agriculture Maria Panayiotu, the government has also approved €23.5 million for farmers' rehabilitation and is preparing plans for reforesting burned areas; the Ministry of Environment will complete the field assessment in September and will soon start increasing forestry staff through the reopened forestry college.

Affected individuals are advised to check their bank accounts, promptly submit any missing documents to authorities, and follow municipal announcements regarding further payments and support measures.