A supplementary budget of $21.3 Billion has been approved by the National Assembly with $10 Billion of that money going towards the efforts to deal with the ongoing floods across the country.

Prime Mark Phillips told the National Assembly that the country is facing a national disaster because of the floods and every region has reported flooding with some regions having it more severe than others.

He said the allocated money will go towards relief efforts including emergency repairs to critical infrastructure that have been impacted by the flood waters.

“We are in the relief phase and we are planning for the recovery”, PM Phillips told the Assembly.

The Prime Minister also said the government intends to ensure all affected persons get help.  The Civil Defence Commission has reported that more than 29,000 households have been affected by the floods. Many farmers, miners and businesses across the country have also been counting their losses.  It is not clear what form of relief will be given to them to assist in full recovery.

He said the $10 Billion is an initial sum to address the floods immediately.

Opposition Members pressed the government for the most affected and hardest hit communities to be given assistance first.

They also called on the government to unveil a longterm comprehensive plan to address the flood situation, as more rainfall has been predicted for the next month.

While flooding has been reported in all 10 administrative regions, the CDC has indicated that the situation in some regions are far more serious than what is taking place in others.

In some parts of Kwakawani, the water level remains at a height of over 12 feet.

Related posts:

Opposition establishes Flood Emergency Centre to assist in flood relief and info gathering ExxonMobil donates $5 Million to aid flood relief efforts CDC continues flood relief efforts in Regions 7 and 8, as more heavy rainfall threatens Flood relief efforts being co-ordinated; Government invites PPP to assist