The government declares a state of emergency in 27 municipalities in Latgale and Vidzeme

On Tuesday, August 29, the Cabinet of Ministers (Cabinet of Ministers), based on information provided by the Ministry of Agriculture regarding the consequences and damage to agricultural lands caused by rains and floods, declared a state of emergency in 27 municipalities in Latgale and Vidzeme.

A state of emergency has been declared in the municipalities of Aglona, Baltinava, Balvi, Cibla, Dagda, Daugavpils, Ilūkste, Kārsava, Krāslava, Līvāni, Ludza, Preiļi, Rēzekne, Riebiņi, Rugāji, Vārkava, Viļaka, Viļāni, Zilupe, Alūksne, Jēkabpils, Madona, Lubāna, Gulbene, Cesvaine, Varakļāni and Krustpils.

A state of emergency has been declared in these regions from August 29, 2017 to November 30, 2017. The Ministry of Agriculture has been designated as the responsible institution for coordinating activities during the state of emergency.

The government instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to identify the persons (farmers) affected by the emergency situation in the territory by October 1, 2017, and the actual losses incurred in accordance with the areas declared to the Rural Support Service in 2017. The Ministry of Agriculture has also been instructed to prepare and submit to the Cabinet of Ministers an informative report on the total losses of farmers and proposals for the amount of compensation according to the type of crop and land use, and a request for the allocation of financial resources from the state budget program "Funds for Unforeseen Events" by November 1, 2017.

In turn, the government calls on the State Revenue Service, credit institutions, and other parties in contractual relationships to ensure compliance by not applying penalties to injured parties (farmers) in the event of non-fulfillment of contractual obligations, which are directly related to the above-mentioned floods and their consequences.

The government also heard information prepared by the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development on the restoration of infrastructure facilities in flood-affected areas. The ministries have been instructed to prepare and submit to the Cabinet of Ministers requests for the allocation of financial resources from the state budget program "Funds for Unforeseen Events" by September 15, 2017 to cover the restoration of infrastructure in flood-affected areas.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture