“Never before in the history of natural disasters in Poland has assistance for victims been so extensive,” Interior and Administration Minister Marcin Kierwiński told reporters.
Officials said the package covered direct help for residents, repairs to schools and public infrastructure, grants for local governments, and business aid.
The review came one year after a storm system, known locally as a Genoa low and informally called Boris, triggered severe flooding across southwestern Poland, including the Lower Silesia and Opole regions.
Evacuations were ordered in areas including the town of Głuchołazy as rivers such as the Biała Lądecka and Nysa rivers overflowed.
Deputy Interior Minister Magdalena Roguska said more than PLN 1 billion reached individual residents as direct allowances.
To speed up payouts, the government introduced advances of up to PLN 50,000 within two or three days, with paperwork completed afterward.
“This was a vast operation involving thousands of people,” Roguska said, adding that more than PLN 960 million funded over 550 local investment projects and that municipalities received a PLN 738 million central grant at the end of 2024 to offset flood-related losses.
She said state-run Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego set aside PLN 550 million to build and renovate municipal housing.
Education Minister Barbara Nowacka said more than PLN 225 million has gone to rebuild schools and preschools, benefiting 69 local governments and financing repairs at 177 facilities.
Public funds also paid for new textbooks and more than 9,000 children received emergency allowances, while over PLN 1 million was earmarked for psychological support and pedagogical services.
Nearly 3,000 students and 300 teachers from 48 schools took part in outdoor programs aimed at recovery.
Deputy Infrastructure Minister Piotr Malepszak said more than PLN 1 billion was allocated to restore rail and road links. He cited a bridge in Głuchołazy that will be rebuilt with a different design to improve flood resilience.
“By 2028, over PLN 1 billion will go into restoring functionality and introducing new solutions in transport infrastructure,” he said, noting that roads suffered the worst damage.
Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister Piotr Borys said his ministry committed PLN 530 million to repair stadiums, pitches and tourist facilities, plus funds for promotion and emergency aid.
Deputy Development and Technology Minister Michał Jaros said PLN 815 million was set aside for companies, with PLN 667 million already paid out across six intervention schemes.
He said more than 5,000 businesses had received help and nearly 9,000 employees benefited from Labor Fund support.
“These funds have reached entrepreneurs, and the programs are continuing,” Jaros said.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP