After yesterday’s government meeting in Athens with a number of Ministers, their general secretaries and the Chief of Staff, the Minister of Interior Yannis Michelakis announced a number of government initiatives for the earthquake victims in Kefalonia.

  • Cutting red tap and expediting procedures in issuing grants for the restoration of buildings
  • 500 euro rent subsidies, depending on family status
  • 600 euro lump sum benefit for earthquake victims
  • Financial aid of up to 6,000 euros for household belongings
  • Subsidizing building repairs and reconstruction by up to 80%, with remaining 20% cost being covered by interest-free loans
  • Abolition of the 2014 emergency real estate tax for earthquake victims
  • Suspension for three months of all obligations towards insurance funds, submission of tax returns etc

Mr. Michelakis also noted that similar measures are available for hotel and tourist businesses that suffered damages in the earthquakes and added that the government is going to take measures for the repairs of the Lixouri port within two months and to restore the road network.

Regarding the operation of schools, the Interior Minister announced that 45 prefabricated buildings have been delivered to Kefalonia in order to resume teaching. The technical teams of engineers have also been tasked with prioritizing the inspection of school buildings.

The Prime Minister Antonis Samaras stated that “Kefalonia is going through a hard time. First of all we must protect its people, restore the damages and be on constant alert with care to help, because it is a moral and not just a political obligation”.

The Government Vice President Evangelos Venizelos also met with the European Commissioner of Regional Policy Johannes Hahn in Athens earlier in the day, who has agreed to consider the activation of the European Solidarity Fund.