“Relief”: More than 850,000 euros were received by the first 167 victims of the fires that broke out in July

2023-08-26 08:10:56

First aid aid was paid today to those affected by the fires that occurred in July in various regions of the country. In particular, 876,378.43 euros were credited to the bank accounts of 167 beneficiaries.

It is noted that immediately after the occurrence of the large fires, which affected eight regional units, starting from July 17, the electronic platform arogi.gov.gr was activated on August 3 for the provision of first aid against housing assistance, as well as against business subsidies and non-profit organizations.

With regard to the first aid against housing assistance, the amount of aid amounts to 10,000 euros for buildings with severe damage that makes them dangerous for use (“red”) and to 5,000 euros for buildings with serious damage that makes them temporarily dangerous for use ( “yellow”). With regard to the part of the first aid against a grant, the amount of the aid amounts to 4,000 euros for each business or organization with very serious material damage and to 2,000 euros for each business or organization with serious material damage. It should be noted that this first payment to the beneficiaries is made while the arogi.gov.gr platform is still open for applications, with the relevant deadline expiring on August 31.

“Immediately after the large fires that hit multiple regions of our country last July, the government activated the – now – expanded framework of state aid to those affected. Among the measures announced and started to be implemented by the government is that of first aid against housing assistance and against grants to businesses and non-profit organizations. While, in fact, the arogi.gov.gr platform is still open and accepting applications until August 31, today, Friday August 25, the payment to the first beneficiaries proceeded. Specifically, 167 beneficiaries received more than 850,000 euros”, noted the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, responsible for recovery from natural disasters and state aid, Christos Triantopoulos.

Simultaneous coverage of many areas
Mr. Triandopoulos emphasized that “it is the first time that the arogi.gov.gr platform covers so many areas at the same time, with the intersections of the applicants’ data continuing at an intensive pace, so that we can proceed with a new payment, soon, while the competent services also await the relevant data from the Regions regarding businesses and livestock holdings” and added that “the intersections that are carried out, after all, ensure that the aid reaches those who are entitled to it and have been affected by the natural disaster”.

At the same time, as he stated, they are continuing “in close cooperation with all the competent bodies, the implementation of the rest of the support and rehabilitation measures that the government has announced, while the scheme of first aid will also be followed for the cases of the fires that hit our homeland on August”.

Finally, it is noted that (a) the amount of the first aid received by each business or each livestock unit is offset against the amount of the final grant, as determined by the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, after the damage has been recorded by the state aid committees of the Region, and (b) the amount of the first aid received by each owner is offset against the amount of the final housing assistance, as this will be determined by the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection with a relevant decision delimiting and granting housing assistance.

Source OT