The cabinet had a working session, discussing
a number of topical issues - the results of the measures taken to cope
with flood damages, the harvest campaign and others. Prime Minister Simeon
Saxe-Coburg had given the respective Ministers the task to present topical
information on these issues to the cabinet.
The damages caused by floods as of 27
May 2005 amount to BGN 393 198 789, said Minister Filiz Husmenova. She
pointed out that as a result of the torrential rains, hail and strong winds
from 25 May to 12 July 2005, there were emergency cases in the districts
of Turgovishte, Veliko Turnovo, Shoumen, Stara Zagora and Rousse and in
separate municipalities in the districts of Haskovo, Burgas, Vratsa, Silistra
and Lovech.
A total of 131 municipalities in 25 districts have been hit by floods, which is 62,842% of the country, with a population of 3 200 000 people, 2 000 000 being directly affected.
The natural disaster claimed 17 lives.
The standing governmental committee on protection against disasters worked in shifts, said Minister Husmenova. The crisis was overcome with the assistance of Civil Protection State Agency, the Ministry of Interior, units of the Ministry of Defence, emergency teams of Water and Sewerage Company, Electricity Distribution companies, district road services, municipal and private companies.
The standing committee for protection against disasters at the Council of Ministers allocated BGN 16 000 000 for the most urgent recovery works in the flood-stricken districts, said Filiz Husmenova. She informed the cabinet that the Civil Protection State Agency provided the needy with 27 vans, 13 tents, 990 blankets, 200 folding beds, 560 mattresses, 1000 kitchen sets and 400 articles of clothing and shoes.
On 9 June, Bulgaria turned for help to NATO Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center and the Monitoring and Information Centre at the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism. As a result, the country received 60 motor pumps, 500 family tents, 30 inflatable boats and 100 000 sand sacks.
Expert committees were sent to the flood-stricken municipalities to make monitoring and assessment of the damages.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Nihat Kabil introduced the ministers to the progress of the harvest campaign. He pointed out that it is going on as usual in and is about to end. There are no reasons to be concerned about the price of wheat and bread.