The government of Italy has provided aid worth more than two billion euros to the Emilia-Romagna region affected by the floods. The money will be used to support families, businesses, farms, the transport system, schools and the health care system, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced today after a cabinet meeting.
The government knows that these are emergencies and that there will be a reconstruction phase, said the prime minister. However, the “total needs and damages” cannot be quantified at the moment. Initially, 700 million euros will be supported mainly by exporting companies. 580 million euros will be allocated to employees and self-employed people who were unemployed due to the flood.
Given the high level of debt in Italy, it is not easy to raise two billion euros “in a few days”, stressed Meloni. To fund the aid, entrance fees to the country’s museums were temporarily raised by one euro, and money was also withdrawn from the state lottery.
A week ago, it rained as much in 36 hours in the northeast region of Italy as it normally does in half a year. Rivers burst their banks and flooded fields, roads and houses. 14 people lost their lives. As of yesterday, 23,000 people have not been able to return to their homes.