Why?
Several wildfires break out in forests and villages across the country, primarily in the areas surrounding the capital of Athens. A state of emergency is declared, and assistance from the EU requested. The HRC immediately started to provide first aid services to affected people. This operation aims to support the needs of 7,100 people of most vulnerable communities with appropriate immediate and medium-term assistance in a timely, effective, and efficient manner, as well as accompany them to recover from the impact of the fires and increase their resilience to future emergencies. Additionally, following the severe impact of the fires, the HRC will carry out activities to support vulnerable communities to be better prepare future disasters, as the recent events (e.g. flash floods on 26 July, only several days after the fires) have shown the need for an increased focus on preparedness to avoid future tragedies.