Deputy Minister of National Defence Giannis Kefalogiannis Visits National Coordination Centre for Operations and Crisis Management

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Deputy Minister of National Defence Giannis Kefalogiannis Visits National Coordination Centre for Operations and Crisis Management

July 31, 2024

On Wednesday 31 July 2024, the Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Giannis Kefalogiannisvisited the National Coordination Centre for Operations and Crisis Management, while being accompanied by the Commanding General of the Constructions and Natural Disaster Management Command, Lieutenant General Mihail Klouvas. The Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Mr. Vasilis Kikilias, the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Mr. Evangelos Tournas, and the Chief of the Hellenic Fire Service, Lieutenant General (Fire Service) Theodoros Vagiaswere also present during the visit.

Mr. Kefalogiannis observed ongoing firefighting operations in all of the country and congratulated the personnel for their work, while underlining the contribution of the Armed Forces in the work of Civil Protection Services, whenever that is required.

After the visit, the Deputy Minister of National Defence made the following statement:

"Today, I find myself in the National Coordination Centre for Operations and Crisis Management, so that I can observe the ongoing firefighting operations in all of the country, along with the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Mr. Vasilis Kikilias, the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Mr. Evangelos Tournas, and operational personnel of the Fire Service,which I want to truly congratulate for our excellent cooperation and their impeccable coordination in their field of responsibility.

Today's visit aims at underlining the contribution of the Armed Forces in matters of Civil Protection. The Armed Forces need minimal time to move to potential fires and provide assistance to the work of the Fire Service, by implementing the "XENOKRATIS" Plan and utilising the special "DEFKALION" sections. The creation of the Constructions and Natural Disaster Management Command maximises the contribution of the Armed Forces in managing natural disasters, as the decision making and action taking processes are improved in terms of quality and time, and aim at the timely and effective provision of assistance in cases of emergency, if that is required by Civil Protection Services.

Ever since the beginning of the fire restriction period, the Armed Forces have allocated land, air, and other assets, and provided assistance in the handling of 224 wildfires.

More particularly, we have allocated:

Aircraft and Helicopters, which have performed 376 take-offs and an aggregate of 1100 flight hours, 93 work vehicles in 52 wildfire cases, 21 buses either for readiness or contribution purposes in 5 wildfire cases, and 200 personnel in ground troop sections during 4 wildfire cases. At the same time, we proceeded in launching fire safety patrols and in manning 96 fire lookout towers, which means 58,400 personnel work hours and in 29,600 hours of military vehicle mobilisation. Additionally, 356 hours of air surveillance have been conducted by assets of the Hellenic Aeronautical and Airsports Federation, as well as 246 hours of air surveillance by assets of the Armed Forces. Also, work vehicles and buses were allocated in areas with high wildfire risk for 100 work days, so that they can intervene immediately in case it is needed.

We owe gratitude to the firefighters, the Armed and Security Forces, and the volunteers, who operate in wildfires all over the country with incredible self-denial.

The Ministry of National Defence and the Armed Forces stand actively beside society, by being in the front-line, wherever and whenever that is required".