Prime Minister Donald Tusk told MPs today that the current floods engulfing parts of southern and central Poland are being by many as the worst natural disaster in the nation’s history.
Speaking to the lower house of parliament (Sejm) Tusk said that no-one affected by the floods would be left without assistance. According to the PM, damages so far have been calculated at at least 10 billion Polish zloty (2.5 billion euros).
The [cost] will probably top the minimum to activate the so-called EU Solidarity fund. So we are speaking of destruction 10 billion zloty,” he said. “But even in the most dramatic scenario this aid will not exceed 100 million euros and that gives an idea of the burden which we will have to bear in Poland to finance repairs and flood relief.”
The European Solidarity Fund was set up in 2002 as a fund which countries could tap into at times on natural disaster. On a sliding scale in relation to national income, damages occurred in Poland would have to top 2.125 billion euro before the government could apply for assistance.
PM Tusk also praised the cooperation between local inhabitants and rescue services, particularly mentioning volunteer fire services and the national fire service. But he criticised those inhabitants of threatened areas who refused to be evacuated, which, he said, have caused additional costs.
Tusk told MPs that at least 50 billion zloty will need to be spent over the next few years on investments in flood infrastructure. The PM said that immediate financial aid – a lump sum of 6,000 zloty (1,500 euros) would be paid out to flood-stricken families. (ek/pg)
Flood in Sandomierz: