After months of totting up the costs of seven storms that hit the country in quick succession after January 22, the government has finally filed a request for help to Brussels, citing the full tally of damages as in excess of €5.3 billion.
This is a good €1.3 billion more than initially estimated by the prime minister.
The request for support under the European Union Solidarity Fund has gone in under the category “major disaster” – and is destined to help with the reconstruction of national and regional public infrastructure, as well as emergency interventions.
A statement from the Ministry of Economy and Territorial Cohesion refers to the ‘carousel of storms’ that battered mainland territory – with winds that exceeded 130 km/ hour, record quantities of rain, floods, landslides and raging seas – the upshot of which “destroyed homes, water, energy and communications supply networks, and caused serious impacts on ports, hospitals, schools, national monuments and economic activity.
“Portugal was a reflection of the impacts of climate change,” says the request. “It is necessary to prepare infrastructures and territories for the occurrence of these events. Along with reconstruction, we are working towards making Portugal more resilient.”
The European Solidarity Fund is designed to support member states affected by serious natural catastrophes and/ or public health emergencies. It works as a interinstitutional mechanism of solidarity, for the recovery of infrastructures and support of populations.
Source: SIC Notícias
