As part of the support announced by Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday, the injured will be able to receive PLN 10,000. non-refundable ad hoc aid (8,000 for social assistance and 2,000 for flood relief benefits), up to PLN 100,000. PLN for apartment renovation and up to PLN 200,000. PLN for the reconstruction of residential buildings. In total, PLN 1 billion has been allocated for this purpose in the state budget.
Local governments show solidarity with flood victims
Regardless of what the central authorities have said, many local governments have announced their own collections of much-needed aid. – Warsaw shows solidarity, Warsaw helps. Ladies and gentlemen, we are all watching what is happening in southern Poland. The government is, of course, helping, but all local governments have also joined the action to help municipalities that are currently facing the disastrous effects of heavy rains – emphasizes the Mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, in a recording published on the capital’s Facebook profile. And he reminds that aid (mainly water, food and cleaning products) can be delivered at points organised in the capital’s districts and at the Warsaw Water System.
Similar collections are currently underway in Gdynia, Lublin, Katowice, Krakow, Kielce, Poznań (in cooperation with Caritas) and Białystok, among others. Details about individual projects (what to bring and where) can be found on the websites of the offices in these cities and on their social media profiles.
The Sejm and political parties have organised their own aid campaigns, collecting gifts for those in need at their offices and headquarters across Poland. Law and Justice has even decided to share some of the funds it has raised following the recent decision by the National Electoral Commission, which resulted in the reduction of part of the party’s subsidy. – We have decided as a party to allocate money through Caritas to the victims. I spoke about this with PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński. We will spend a quarter of a million zlotys to help the victims, – PiS club leader Mariusz Błaszczak announced today.
Sports networks and associations share water and food
Private entities are also helping, including popular retail chains such as Lidl or Biedronka. The former is collecting drinking water and food for the injured, some of which have already been delivered to Kłodzko, Głuchołazy and Jelenia Góra. Biedronka, in turn, has launched a cash register collection, which will be donated to the Polish Red Cross.
Sports associations and clubs are also helping out. On the PZPS website you can find information about the fundraising campaign organized by the Polish Volleyball Foundation. Piłkarski Śląsk Wrocław, in turn, is selling special donations, and the proceeds from the campaign will be donated to help flood victims. In the capital, fans themselves have taken matters into their own hands – this afternoon, in front of the Legia Warsaw stadium, they will collect, among other things: food, hygiene products and equipment needed to clean streets and houses.
Fundraising is also being conducted by non-governmental organizations, including Caritas, WOŚP, Polish Red Cross and Polish Humanitarian Action, as well as by various collection platforms, such as siepomaga.pl, pomocam.pl or zrzutka.pl. WOŚP head Jerzy Owsiak announced today that the foundation has already donated PLN 40 million to help flood victims, and the purpose of the newly launched collection will be to buy back destroyed medical equipment.
