Cyprus can benefit even more from the implementation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism rescEU, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said on Friday, noting that European solidarity knows no borders.                                                        
 
Opening the virtual reality exhibition “EU Saves Lives” in Nicosia, in the presence of Minister of Interior Constantinos Petrides, the Commissioner said Cyprus is one of the countries which has both contributed to and benefited from rescEU.
 
According to Stylianides, since 2011 Cyprus has activated the Mechanism five times, the last being in 2016 for a fire in Soleas. Furthermore, Cyprus has responded to calls for help from Greece and Israel.
 
Stylianides said the EU has a worldwide leading role in humanitarian aid, noting that climate change is real.
 
He also referred to the importance of voting in the upcoming European Elections.
 
Petrides thanked the EU for its assistance in fighting fires and noted that Cyprus has a hard Summer ahead. He noted that the dangers make it imperative to implement a European framework and that Cyprus will support all efforts in this direction.
 
The Minister of Interior referred to the benefits from Cyprus’ EU membership, and noted that the EU has been saving lives since it was established.
 
Petrides also referred to the increased dangers from climate change, as well as other threats and disasters, which he said pointed to the need for prevention and preparation.
 
Regarding rescEU, he said it was a pioneering programme, indeed “solidarity in practice”, which Cyprus has used in the past. Petrides said the Summer would be very difficult and all services were prepared.
 
At the exhibition, visitors use virtual reality headsets and motion chairs to experience humanitarian crises and natural disasters. Three 360-degree videos simulate a refugee camp in Bangladesh, fighting a fire which is out of control, and a school in a Kenyan refugee camp.