Interior Ministry: Nearly €400,000 for Clear-up Work Sent to 16 Municipalities

Bratislava, August 1 (TASR) – Sixteen municipalities hit by high winds in early July have been sent nearly €400,000 for the clear-up work and can expect the funds in their accounts within a day, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) announced at a press conference on Friday, which was also attended by the ministry’s state secretary Michal Kalinak. "It's been twenty-three days since the high winds, and we've sent almost €400,000 to the accounts of six district offices, which in turn will be forwarded to municipalities to cover the financial consequences and pay for the damage incurred. The first amount of €400,000 was sent in record time," said the minister. Regarding the humanitarian aid of €1,500 per household, he said that it's been provided to more than 200 people to date. Kalinak noted that financial aid for the clear-up work was sent to district offices on Thursday (July 31). By Friday, it should be credited to the accounts of the 16 affected municipalities in which a state of emergency was declared. "Aid has been sent, communication has taken place, and further aid will be on its way in August," he added. According to him, the ministry is still working on a new crisis management plan which will, inter alia, address the issue of prevention and shorter time limits. A round-table discussion on this subject between Interior Ministry’s representatives and the Parliamentary Institute is slated for September 22. Initiated by the opposition Progressive Slovakia, Christian Democrat (KDH) and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) parties, an away-from-home session of the parliamentary committee for public administration and regional development is scheduled to take place in Gelnica (Kosice region) next Wednesday (August 6) to address the consequences of high winds in the district and to discuss information in the media that the state assistance is insufficient and late. Estok has repeatedly rejected criticism that government officials are responding inadequately to the situation and considers it to be absurd that a committee session is being convened on this subject. Eastern Slovakia was hit by strong winds and rain in early July, causing huge material damage to local people's property, infrastructure and transport networks. A state of emergency was declared in dozens of municipalities and in the entire district of Gelnica. jrg/df/ko