Due to the heavy floods this summer, the budget of the permanent disaster management committee has been depleted. Disaster Management Minister Emel Etem announced yesterday that in the coming week, the Cabinet would make the remaining 18 million leva for disaster management available. This is the last amount the committee has at its disposal, after the Cabinet presented an additional 50 million leva in July. Etem did not specify whether more money will be allocated for flood aid. Meteorologists predict heavy rainfalls during the autumn and it is not clear whether the money will be enough to cover damages before the acceptance of the new budget for 2006.
Etem also said that the construction of shelters for people left homeless after the floods was too delayed. If construction works are not finalised shortly, the committee will use part of its funds for the purchase of 100 to 150 trailers. Municipalities, however, assured that the work is going according to schedule. The need for shelter is becoming more pressing with each new rainfall. During the latest downpours another 100 houses in a small village collapsed, Sega newspaper reported.