President of Greek Red Cross Nikolaos Oikonomopoulos (3rd L) receives donation from the charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Athens Wang Qiang (3rd R), on behalf of the Chinese Red Cross, to help Greece's wildfire victims, in Athens, Greece, on Aug. 9, 2018. The Red Cross Society of China on Thursday donated 100,000 U.S. dollars to the Greek Red Cross to support relief efforts for fire-stricken Greeks. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)
by Maria Spiliopoulou, Valentini Anagnostopoulou
ATHENS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Red Cross Society of China on Thursday donated 100,000 U.S. dollars to the Greek Red Cross to support relief efforts for fire-stricken Greeks.
The check was handed to the President of the Greek Red Cross Nikolaos Oikonomopoulos by the charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Athens Wang Qiang.
The fire on July 23 has killed at least 93 people and injured dozens in addition to property losses, according to the latest official data.
"Each contribution is important, starting from one euro and reaching as much as one can offer. In the case of the Chinese Red Cross the donation is moving as well as very significant," Oikonomopoulos said, welcoming the Chinese delegation to the Greek Red Cross premises in the center of the Greek capital.
"These funds we are raising, which will be given to the people in need, up to the last euro, are very important, as well as the psychological and social aid we are providing," Oikonomopoulos stressed, speaking to Xinhua during the event.
In coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Greek Red Cross will run a nine-month program to assist fire-stricken people at Kineta, Mati and Rafina, he said.
On his part, Wang underlined that from the first hours after the tragedy Chinese leaders contacted their Greek counterparts to express solidarity with the people suffering.
The Chinese community in Greece also mobilized quickly to offer help to the fire-stricken areas, he noted. Chinese nationals living across Greece collected clothes, shoes, personal care items, food products, money and donated blood for the injured.
"We believe that with the co-effort of the Greek government, the Greek Red Cross and the Greek people, those affected by the disaster will overcome this temporary difficulty and rebuild their homes. We stand by your side," Wang said. (1 euro= 1.16 U.S. dollars)
