Politis

Maria Papa Criticizes Ioannou: Repeated Interventions on Shelters Ignored

Published March 23, 2026, 09:22
Maria Papa Criticizes Ioannou: Repeated Interventions on Shelters Ignored

Former Director of Civil Defence, Maria Papa, responded to criticism regarding the management of shelters, emphasizing that her interventions to the leadership of the Ministry of Interior were repeated and well-documented, but her proposals were not pursued. She states that upon assuming office in 2021, she identified significant weaknesses in the sector due to understaffing and a lack of a specialized structure. She advocated for the creation of a specialized branch for shelter supervision, but the proposal was not implemented. Despite limited resources, Civil Defence continued to manage the program, conducting inspections and training. Papa emphasizes the need for preparedness, transparency, and cooperation in citizen protection.