COVID19; British Bases help families in need

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British Bases police at Akrotiri have re-instigated a Food Aid programme first introduced during Cyprus’ 2013 financial crisis to help struggling families during the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Representatives from the police’s Community Unit donated 35 large boxes of food to community leaders of the surrounding Limassol villages of Akrotiri, Assomatos, Trachoni, Erimi, Lofou, Sotira and Avdemou.

The boxes, which were paid for with more than €700 from a charity fund, donations from local businesses, plus individual police officers, including the SBA Police Chief Constable, Chris Eyre, contained large amounts of dried foods and tinned goods, including pasta, cereals, beans, potatoes and flour.

The packages also contained meat and fish and more seasonal Easter goods, including traditional tsoureki sweet bread, biscuits and some chocolate.

With the increasing uncertainty and worry that many families and people may be feeling, the Sovereign Base Area Police said it is doing anything it can to help the communities it serves.

Deputy Divisional Commander for the Akrotiri Division, Superintendent Constandinos Petrou, who was present at the handover of the goods, explained why he felt so strongly about the Food Aid initiative.

“We have daily communications with our community leaders, and we carry out what is called community impact assessments. During this assessment, we were able to identify 45 families within the SBAs that needed our help, so we wanted to be able to provide them with some essentials during this very challenging period.”

“Our communities are extremely important to us and if we are able to help those in need, then we will, of course, do what we can.”

Akrotiri’s community leader, George Stylianou, praised the support shown by the police to his village: “In the eight years that I have led the Akrotiri Community, I have always been impressed in the way that SBA Police is supporting the vulnerable through their charity work,”

Andreas Aresti, from Erimi, said: “Despite being a newly-elected community leader, I am impressed with the corporation and communication with the SBA Police. Their charitable activities have been extraordinary.”