Bulgaria’s caretaker government adopts decisions on compensation for those hard-hit by wildfires

At a regular meeting on July 24, Bulgaria’s interim administration adopted three decisions on compensation for those hard-hit by the wildfires of recent days that have scorched several places in the country, destroying homes and causing other widespread destruction.

Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev told a briefing after the meeting that the first decision was on a programme of compensation for individuals, which would allow a larger sum than that provided by the Social Affairs Ministry, which was 1578 leva for urgent expenses and 2500 for equipment and furniture.

This programme would also cover people who had lost domestic animals but were not registered as farmers.

The second decision was to provide a million leva to the Defence Ministry for water buckets for the Cougar helicopters.

The third decision was to provide two million leva to the Interior Ministry for equipment, repairs, fuel and “everything that is related to the fires,” Glavchev said.

Municipalities are expected to submit damage reports and requests to cover losses.

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Lyudmila Petkova said that these funds were for the restoration of homes, for example, for the purchase of equipment, machinery – washing machines, televisions, refrigerators.

“This depends on the mayor of each municipality. All requests will be processed weekly so that help can be provided to people as quickly as possible,” Petkova said.

Glavchev said that those left homeless by the fires would be offered the same type of accommodation as that provided to Ukrainian refugees.

“Until they are provided with normal living conditions, they should be accommodated in the same type of accommodation as the Ukrainian refugees,” he said.

There has been political criticism from certain quarters in recent days that the Bulgarians left homeless were offered accommodation in small prefabs while the Ukrainian refugees were in hotels.

(Photo: government.bg)

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