More than a month after the devastating floods in Poland, the distribution of financial aid to victims remains sluggish. The Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA) has confirmed that housing reconstruction grants of up to PLN 200,000 have reached just 59 families so far. The situation is even worse for farm building reconstruction grants of up to PLN 100,000, as no funds have been disbursed yet.
Government promises of swift and comprehensive assistance have yet to be realized. As of October 17, only 16 families received housing aid totaling PLN 1.2 million. By October 23, this number increased to 59 families, with PLN 2.6 million in payouts.
MSWiA explains the delays by pointing to the need for thorough verification of each application by Social Welfare Centers (OPS). This process includes damage assessments by local commissions, which have now largely completed their work. Additional inspectors and engineers have been sent to flood-affected areas to speed up the evaluations.
The ministry reassures that the payout process will “accelerate dramatically” in the coming days, but so far, victims have seen little relief. While emergency assistance of PLN 8,000 and other smaller grants are available, the more substantial reconstruction funds are crucial for families to rebuild their homes and livelihoods.
As the government faces increasing pressure, the coming weeks will show whether the promised aid will finally reach those in need.