Greece is suffering a series of unprecedented natural disasters, marked by devastating fires and deadly floods. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the country was suffering “a peacetime war” over the consequences of climate change. This situation has led to criticism of the management of these disasters, pushing the government to strengthen its response to natural crises.
Indeed, the Greek government has announced an increase in the special reserve for natural disasters, increasing to 600 million euros from 2024. This increase will be financed in part by the increase in the occupancy tax on hotels in luxury. This measure aims to strengthen the country’s capacity to deal with the consequences of fires and floods, as well as to improve the authorities’ response to these crises.
Fires in July and August destroyed more than 150,000 hectares of land in Greece, causing widespread damage. Then, last week, floods hit the Thessaly region, killing 17 people. These events highlighted the need for better coordination between different government agencies and emergency services, in order to minimize human losses and material damage.
The Prime Minister stressed that despite the considerable restoration costs, the Greek economy was strong enough to withstand them. He called for unity between the state and citizens to rebuild what has been lost and face this new enemy of climate change. These reinforced measures aim to put in place a more effective response to natural disasters and to ensure the country’s resilience to the effects of climate change.
In conclusion, Greece is going through a difficult period characterized by devastating fires and deadly floods. The Greek government recognizes the seriousness of these crises and is taking steps to strengthen its response capacity. It is essential to establish effective coordination between the different actors concerned and to mobilize the necessary resources to face these challenges. Resilience and adaptation to climate change are now at the heart of Greece’s concerns, in order to prevent future disasters and protect the country’s population and natural habitats.