site.btaSocial Assistance Agency Teams Provide Support to Flood Victims

Teams from the Social Assistance Agency (SAA) are already on the ground assisting people affected by the floods, the Labour and Social Policy Ministry's press centre said on Saturday.

Since Friday, they have been conducting field visits to the affected settlements in order to assess the damage as quickly as possible and help residents apply for one-time disaster relief aid. The maximum amount of this aid is three times the poverty line, or BGN 1,914.

Labour and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov is in constant contact regarding the progress of the process, the press centre said, adding that the Ministry’s team is already working on options to provide additional financial assistance to those affected, as was done during the summer wildfires.

The Ministry recalled that, following a Council of Ministers decision proposed by the Labour and Social Policy Minister, in late July, people affected by the wildfires were provided with the opportunity to apply not only for the one-time disaster aid but also for an additional BGN 3,000 grant. To receive both forms of support, the damaged home must be the family’s primary residence and legally constructed.

Families affected by the disaster may receive up to BGN 2,500 from the Social Protection Fund to purchase furniture and household appliances, such as refrigerators and stoves, the Ministry said.

The Ministry expressed its condolences to the families of the victims of the disaster.

Police, gendarmerie, and fire service teams are scheduled to conduct a second round of inspections Saturday to assess the current situation and identify priority areas for cleanup, the Burgas Regional Administration said earlier in the day.