In response to a call of the Hellenic Government with regards to the devastating wildfires that occurred in Attica last year, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation made a public announcement on July 26^th 2018, expressing its commitment to provide the amount of € 5,000,000. Regarding this commitment, the Foundation announces the following:

The Executive Board of the Foundation decided to direct the above amount toward the coverage of urgent needs in the Public Health sector related to the handling of emergency cases. The upgrading of specialised healthcare services, in response to a disaster of the magnitude of the July 2018 wildfires, is crucial, given that the Health sector constitutes an established, critical link in the chain of civil protection and management of any state-of-emergency situation.

Specifically, following a thorough examination of the situation and prioritisation of major needs, as well as meetings between Foundation staff and the heads of the relevant Attica Health Services Districts, the Directors of Attica Hospitals and in collaboration with representatives of competent agencies of the Hellenic State, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation decided and has already set in motion the following donations:

• Funding the study and implementation of the redesign, renovation and upgrading of the Emergency Department of the General Hospital of Athens "G. GENNIMATAS".
• Funding the upgrading of the medical and technological equipment of the Emergency Department and the 2^nd Intensive Care Unit, as well as the creation of a High Dependency Unit (HDU) at the "KAT" General Hospital of Attica.
• Funding the upgrading of the medical and technological equipment of the Intensive Care Unit of the Latsio Burn Centre at the General Hospital of Elefsis "THRIASSIO".
• Funding the procurement of operating equipment for blood donation centres and mobile blood collection units of the National Blood Donation Centre.

Alongside the donations above, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation has taken the following actions, which pertain to the immediate support of affected individuals, as well as the restoration of infrastructure damaged by the 2018 wildfires:

• Individual medical care assistance – a funding implemented by the Foundation since the end of 2018 – to support the burn victims of the July 2018 wildfires, in collaboration with the 1st Health Directorate of Attica and the Coordinating Committee of Mati Attiki Residents.
• Donation for the reconstruction of buildings and the restoration of damages at the "Agios Andreas Centre for the Restoration of Health Losses" of the Hellenic Army General Staff, which was completed in 2018.

The Foundation aims for these interventions to contribute in the medium and long-run to the preparedness of requisite services in preventing and addressing similar state-of-emergency situations in an effective and timely manner.

More recent detailed updates relating to the course of implementation of the aforementioned donations will be announced via the Foundation’s website and social media platforms.