site.btaBulgaria to Apply for EU Financing to Overcome Consequences of Floodings

Mizia, August 8 (BTA) - Bulgaria will apply for financing under the European Union Solidarity Fund to cover the damage from the floods, Deputy Prime Minister for Management of EU Funding said quoted by the Cabinet's press secretariat.

Tsanova said the European Commission has confirmed that Bulgaria can apply for support for a regional event. She specified that Bulgaria will request 13 million euro.

The final version of the application will be ready next week as it will cover the damage in the North Central and North Eastern Regions.

In the meantime, Health Minister Miroslav Nenkov visited the town of Mizia. The swelling Skut River flooded Mizia last weekend, claiming two lives. Dozens of homes were destroyed and many more are uninhabitable. The minister said that at this stage there is no serious health risk in Mizia.

The health authorities have coped well with the situation in the first days of the disaster, said Nenkov. Medical services in Mizia have already been restored. Psychologists trained to work in similar conditions are shortly joining the medical teams.

There is potential risk of epidemics in the town but it may be reduced to minimum if good cleaning and disinfection are ensured, Chief Health Inspector Angel Kounchev said. This year the country has already experienced such disaster situations on several occasions, he recalled.

Water supply in Mizia has been restored but water is not fit for drinking and use for household needs.

A soup kitchen has been operating in Mizia since Thursday with products donated by the Bulgarian Red Cross (BRC), the organization's press centre said. The National Public Council with BRC has allocated 30,000 leva for the purchase of products and cooking of hot meal.

The victims of the floods are also financially supported.

The BRC National Public Council has conclusively determined the amount for supporting the disaster-hit regions - a total of 887,915 leva, distributed as follows: 349,020 leva for Varna, 449,000 leva for Dobrich and 89,895 leva for Veliko Turnovo.