The Council of Ministers decided on Wednesday to provide financial assistance to those affected by the severe weather conditions on August 29, setting out the relevant criteria, Interior Minister, Constantinos Ioannou said after the Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace.
Specifically, the Cabinet approved the following criteria for the provision of financial assistance to those affected by the August 29 severe weather:
– Uninsured privately owned permanent residences: financial assistance covering 80% of the assessed damage, up to a maximum of pound 20,000 for damage to the building, and assistance covering the full assessed damage, up to pound 15,000, for damage to equipment.
– Photovoltaic systems at uninsured privately owned permanent residences: assistance covering 80% of the assessed damage, up to a maximum of pound 7,000.
– Uninsured business premises: assistance covering 70% of the assessed value, up to a maximum of pound 30,000 for damage to the building, and assistance covering the full assessed damage, up to pound 10,000, for damage to equipment.
– Uninsured vehicles: assistance covering 75% of the assessed damage, up to a maximum of pound 5,000 per vehicle, provided that the vehicle has a valid road tax, third-party insurance and MOT, or is legally declared off the road.
The Minister said insured homes, business premises and vehicles will receive assistance equal to the assessed damage, up to the insurance excess.
He stressed that assistance will be provided only for buildings with a valid permit and for permanent, licensed structures.
Asked about the total amount of financial assistance to be provided to those affected, Ioannou said that it has not yet been finalised, as not all cases have been assessed.
According to the Interior Minister, preliminary assessments have so far identified damage to 183 homes in Nicosia district, 12 homes, a livestock facility and two vehicles in Larnaca district, as well as 12 homes and a business premises in Paphos district.
Damage has also been recorded at 11 homes in Limassol district and two homes and a church in Famagusta district.
The Minister noted that the damage assessment process by the District Administrations will continue until next Monday, after which ‘we will be able to provide the final number of affected properties and vehicles.’