CYPRUS: Over 1,000 aid boxes for Greece fire victims in Tsunami of love

Some 1,000 boxes with products of daily necessities, donated by Cypriots, will be handed over to the Co-ordinating Centre of fire-hit Attica region in Greece on Saturday, Commissioner for Volunteerism Yannis Yiannaki told CNA.

Yiannaki, who will travel to Greece, said that apart from the 1,000 boxes, clothes will be sent to the fire-ravaged Greeks, as well as tonnes of pharmaceuticals.

The government has deposited in a special account €10 million to help the effort for reconstruction and appealed to people and businesses to add to this amount. The funds collected will be allocated to special projects.

The items collected will be sent to Greece in two shipments.

Yiannaki told CNA that Cyprus has focused on the real needs, as determined by the Greek authorities, which are mainly dry food, children`s items, long-life milk, diapers and baby wipes.

"In Cyprus there was a tsunami of love,” Yiannaki said.

He said there are construction companies and volunteers in Cyprus who want to support and contribute, as well as Cypriots who expressed a willingness to host families and children.

"There are many such requests. I will convey them, but it depends on the Greek authorities on how to manage them and which needs they have.”

The fires have killed at least 85 people, injured more than 190, while dozens are missing.

Over 1,000 houses have been totally destroyed by the wildfires.