Special platform for flood-stricken to open on Monday

The state will stand by the citizens who were affected by the recent severe weather conditions, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Sunday from Larissa. He added that the special online platform for those affected by floods will open on Monday.

The prime minister said that the main concern is public health, noting that farmers and livestock breeders will be fully compensated."I know how difficult and how hard it is for farmers who have lost their animals. We want these people to stay in their homes, to build up their herds once more and I want them to know that we will be by their side at every step of this process," the prime minister noted.

"I want all our fellow citizens whose properties were either destroyed or heavily damaged to know that the state will be at their side and will be at their side immediately, so that they can return to their homes with the necessary financial support in order to cover their needs for household equipment and then provide the necessary funds to repair the damage left behind by the flood," he added.

"We will need the EU's help," the prime minister said and revealed that he will be in Strasbourg on Tuesday at the head of a government team, for talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. "It is a disaster which is certainly directly linked to the climate crisis and a disaster which also requires Europe's assistance," he said.

"We have many choices of financial instruments where Europe can help: both the agricultural funds and the NSRF resources and the Recovery Fund and the Natural Disasters Fund. So, I will discuss all this with the president of the European Commission and I am sure that Europe will support our country financially so that the Greek taxpayer does not shoulder alone the great cost of repairing the damage that the storm left behind," he added.

The prime minister also referred to the upgrading of Greece to an investment grade rating, underlining that "it is certainly the last thing that interests the citizens of Thessaly right now, but it is important as it marks the country's ability to overcome even such an unprecedented climate-linked crisis."

Mitsotakis' speech was followed by the measures presented by the competent ministers.

More specifically, Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis Christos Triandopoulos announced that the first economic aid platform, the arogi.gov.gr platform, will open on Monday, both for the first economic aid for houses, which is up to 10,000 euros, and the first economic aid for businesses, which is up to 4,000 euros - including livestock farms.

Moreover, it will cover the damage to household goods, but also the initial repair work, with amounts up to 6,600 euros. At the same time, the framework of the housing assistance is activated with coverage of up to 80% of the repair and reconstruction of building infrastructure, the support of businesses with a grant which reaches 70% of the estimated damage, he said.

Alternate Health Minister Irini Agapidaki referred to the operational plan prepared by the ministry for threats to public health.

On his part, the Minister of Rural Development and Food Lefteris Avgenakis referred to the first priority, which is the collection, burning and burial of dead animals.

Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Sofia Zaharakis said: "We have been hosting families in Volos since last week and we intend to continue for another month. And of course, we are at the citizens' disposal for any problem that may arise."