Home and business owners affected by the devastating fires that ravaged a large part of Northeastern Attica woodland in Greece earlier this week will be able to apply online for state aid, announced Deputy Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Christos Triantopoulos on Wednesday.
The arogi.gov.gr platform, set to launch on Aug. 21, will be accepting claims for damages caused by the Attica fires, he said in an interview to SKAI TV.
According to reports and following an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday called by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, inspection crews are assessing the damages so that the compensation process can begin.
Triantopoulos went on to add that the online platform will enable the distribution of the first round of support in order “to help affected citizens take the first steps to recovery”.
Earlier this week, the government also announced a set of 14 relief measures aimed at supporting people who saw their homes, businesses, and neighborhoods burn to the ground. These include funding between 5,000 and 10,000 euros for homes and businesses that suffered complete damage, a rent or co-living subsidy, special compensation for damaged crops and lost animal stock, reparation for basic home appliances, a six-month suspension of tax payments for taxpayers in fire-stricken areas, and exemption from ENFIA property tax for a period of three years.
Affected business owners will also be able to temporarily suspend employee labor contracts and be exempt of social security contributions. Lastly, the government also announced this week funding to be directed to local governments in the affected Attica regions which include Marathonas, Varnavas, Grammatiko, Nea Makri, Pallini, Dionyso, Pendeli and Halandri.
The fire, which started in the town of Varnavas on Sunday, ravaged at least 10,000 hectares of precious woodland eventually reaching on Monday night the Athens suburbs of Nea Pendeli and Halandri. Thousands of people were forced to flee their homes and dozens of animals went missing.
