Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has called on representatives of local government in oblasts of western Ukraine to immediately provide the government with lists of people who need compensation as a result of the floods. She gave this order to representatives of local government during her meeting in Ivano-Frankivsk.

The Prime Minister noted that all funds allocated for compensation of flood damages will be paid directly to the victims through Oshchadbank and Ukrposhta. Tymoshenko stated that the government has already allocated funds for payments of advances to flood victims, but that full payment of compensations requires a parliament decision on changes to the 2008 State Budget.

In addition, the Head of Government issued the order to immediately compensate the families of those who died, and reminded that the amount for one family, according to the government’s decision, will be 100,000 hryvnias.

Yulia Tymoshenko announced that according to the latest information: 721 communities are under water and require immediate assistance; 40,601 homes have been ruined; 35,380 hectares of agricultural land have been destroyed, 386 automobile and 569 pedestrian bridges have been damaged, and 17,471 people have been evacuated. The Prime Minister stated that local government should use immediate measures to deliver food, specifically bread and drinking water, to affected communities.

In addition, she called on local government workers to be in round-the-clock contact with the central office for the flood clean-up effort and submit requests for necessary assistance.

Yulia Tymoshenko also commissioned the Ministry of Agrarian Policy together with the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Economy to prepare for tomorrow’s session of government a method for assessing damages to private farmsteads and gardens “so that we can give the people some money.”

The Prime Minister also commissioned the representatives of local government to immediately start inspecting homes that have been destroyed by the floods.

Yulia Tymoshenko underscored that inspections of homes should be done together with the public. The special inspection groups should also include representatives of executive government, deputies of different levels, representatives of housing and communal services, Ministry of Regional Development and Construction, and representatives of law enforcement in order to prevent looting.

Tymoshenko called on all those working in these groups to make an objective assessment of damages.

Material from the KMU Press Service