“The implementation of all the measures of the state aid framework continues, with the same intensive pace, with adjustments to the data and conditions created by this great natural disaster,” said the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, responsible for issues restoration of natural disasters and state aid, Christos Triandopoulos.

As he said, first aid payments to households, farmers, breeders and businesses continue and he added that after 19 payments, the total of first aid is close to 120 million euros, to almost 33,000 flood victims.

“Regarding the aid to cover household goods and basic needs, aid in the amount of 76.8 million euros has so far been granted to 16,333 households. The amount in question, if the first aid for housing assistance is added to it, amounts to close to 82.7 million euros”, pointed out Mr. Triandopoulos, while noting that for the requests for household goods, apart from those that have already been paid, the crossings continue, while quite a large part seems not to correspond to the scheme’s provisions.

“What does it mean that it does not meet the intended components of the scheme?” It means it can:

– There should be errors during the declaration process.

– It should not be a flooded residence.

– The application must not correspond to a residence.

– To have declared more than one main residence.

– To have declared more than two properties.

– The declared data should not match the autopsies.

– Have errors in their address information.

– There should be pending ownership and inheritance issues.

To these, in the case of housing assistance, we should also add the non-submission of the correct documents”, he said and added that “all of the above, however, does not mean that these cases are set aside and sidelined”.

On the contrary, as he said, the officers of the general secretariat of Natural Disaster Recovery and State Aid continue to check and investigate the applications, with the means at their disposal, “so that not a single application of our fellow citizen who is entitled to his aid is lost.” state”.

“They have started and are looking one by one, all the cases that do not meet, initially, the provisions of the scheme, even with direct communications with the executives who did the autopsies, as well as the interested citizens for relevant clarifications. And, of course, citizens with issues in their applications will receive the next period and relevant information, so that corrections can be made where possible and the process can proceed”, he underlined. The process of first aid payments continues on a weekly basis and will continue in Thessaly, since the project is big, he also emphasized.

In addition, the implementation of all other measures continues, such as that of special compensation to the employees of flood-affected businesses, which were included in the regime of suspensions of the employment contract. A regime based on the assurance from the State Aid committees of the Region and implemented by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

“To date, the special compensation for the months of September and October has been paid. Specifically, according to the data of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, 4,824 employees joined the system of suspensions in the month of September and 2,634 employees for the month of October, from 1,043 companies”, he noted.

The total of the special compensation, for the two months, as he said, translates into 2.8 million euros.

“In the above aid amounts, the compensations and advances from ELGA and the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food for the animal and plant capital, amounting to 124 million euros, should be included,” said Mr. Triandopoulos.

Thus, as he underlined, the total amount of resources granted for aid to households, farmers and professionals, to date, in Thessaly, but also in specific areas of Central Greece, reaches 246 million euros.

“Within 2.5 months, 246 million euros of aid have been granted, after checks, cross-checks and utilization of all available means and tools. Historically, it is the largest aid project, which continues. It is the largest so far, in terms of the amount of aid, time of aid provision, checks and autopsies. It is the biggest, just as the natural disaster is the biggest in our recent history. That is why we are continuing, at an unabated rate, so that the support and restoration of Thessaly can proceed as quickly as possible”, underlined Mr. Triandopoulos.

“We are continuing, with determination, the work and in cooperation with everyone we will manage for Thessaly not only to stand on its feet again, but also to flourish as it has done until now. And we will achieve it”, he concluded.