in-cyprus 27 May 2024
Cyprus’ Agriculture Minister, Maria Panayiotou, attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels on Monday to discuss the ongoing drought’s impact and the market situation following the Ukraine war.
Panayiotou briefed her counterparts on the severe drought in Cyprus, highlighting its negative effects on agriculture, livestock, and the environment.
She called for European Commission measures to address these impacts and safeguard food security and environmental protection.
Cyprus is among the European countries most affected by drought, alongside Greece and Belgium. The Ministry statement noted the need for additional, potentially drastic measures to prevent the situation from worsening. Adaptation strategies to reduce dependence on water infrastructure and promote conservation were also highlighted.
The statement warned against relying solely on increased water supply through stored reserves or desalination, citing potential environmental consequences.
Meanwhile, dam water levels in Cyprus remain significantly lower compared to last year, raising concerns about the country’s water situation. Overall dam levels are at 43%, compared to 66.3% in May 2023. Some dams are facing imminent depletion.
Separately, wildfires across Cyprus kept the Fire Service on high alert over the weekend. Firefighters deployed additional resources to Mouttagiaka on Sunday to tackle a large blaze, successfully protecting nearby homes and businesses.
Four additional fire engines and a volunteer team with portable firefighting units were dispatched to the scene. Jordanian helicopters and a Forestry Department aircraft also assisted with aerial firefighting efforts.
