European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced €10 billion in aid for four Central European countries hit by Storm Boris, following a meeting with their leaders in Poland on Thursday to discuss assistance for areas and populations affected by flooding.
Since last week, strong winds, heavy rains and exceptional flooding have killed 24 people in the Czech Republic (5), Austria (5), Poland (7) and Romania (7).
In some places, the water has “literally destroyed everything” and made it “like after a war,” Polish Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak told reporters on Thursday.
Although the rains have stopped in most parts of the region, swollen rivers still threaten downstream towns.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and von der Leyen met Thursday afternoon in the western Polish city of Wroclaw, whose 670,000 residents are under water.
“On the one hand, it was heartbreaking to see the devastation and destruction caused by the floods,” the European Commission president told reporters. “But I have to say that the tremendous solidarity between the people of our countries was moving.”
She pointed out that the European Union could resort to financial resources in the Solidarity Fund to be used for the purpose of “helping finance reform and reconstruction.”
“At first glance, it is possible to use 10 billion euros of cohesion funds for the benefit of the affected countries. This is an emergency response at the moment,” she explained.
Although the water level is lower than in 1997, when Wroclaw experienced catastrophic flooding, the flow could continue for several days, fueling concerns about dams.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressed on Thursday the need to avoid any unjustified “comfort” and to believe that “the worst is over” during the crisis meeting held in Wroclaw.
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