Aid for reconstruction - After the flood disaster: 4.1 billion euros approved
Approximately three years after the flood disaster, around one third of the 12.3 billion Euro pledged for rebuilding is allocated for aid. A total of 4.1 billion Euro has been approved, according to the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Building in Düsseldorf. Of this, 2.7 billion Euro goes to the municipalities. With this, hospitals, sports facilities, and kindergartens damaged by the floods will be repaired or rebuilt.
For private individuals whose property was damaged, a total of 818 million Euro in assistance was approved. Of this, 668 million Euro - or 82% - has already been paid out. Businesses and agriculture also receive support.
The Ministry does not seem to be counting on the fund being completely depleted. "The roughly 12.3 billion Euro available for rebuilding in North Rhine-Westphalia are expected to be in the end not needed to the full extent," said Building Minister Ina Scharrenbach (CDU). However, there are still affected individuals who have not yet submitted an application. On-site relief offers are important to reach this group. To support this effort, the state has entered into cooperation agreements for relief offers with the districts and free cities in the flood-affected areas.
According to the Ministry, in several hundred cases, fraud suspicions have arisen in connection with aid applications. 378 cases have been reported to the respective public prosecutor's office.
Forty-nine people died in North Rhine-Westphalia due to the catastrophic floods three years ago. A billion euros worth of damage was caused to infrastructure and buildings during the stormy period from July 13 to 15, 2021. The northern Eifel and the Bergische Land were particularly affected.
Despite the progress in allocating funds for reconstruction, many hospitals, sports facilities, and kindergartens in North Rhine-Westphalia, still damaged from the flood, are yet to be repaired or rebuilt due to the limited use of the 2.7 billion Euro allocated to municipalities.
The catastrophic 'flood of the century' in North Rhine-Westphalia not only resulted in the death of 49 individuals but also caused a significant destruction worth a billion Euros. In the aftermath, numerous relief offers were initiated in Düsseldorf, the hub of the Ministry of Building, to reach those affected individuals who have not yet applied for aid.
The flood disaster of three years ago also had a profound impact on the region's hospitals. As part of the ongoing reconstruction efforts, these crucial health facilities in North Rhine-Westphalia remain a priority in the allocation of the pledged 12.3 billion Euros.
