Italy adopts €2bn aid package for people affected by deadly floods

Although it may be too early to quantify the financial impact of the recent floods that swept through central Italy, the damage is evident.

The government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday adopted a 2 billion euro aid package to help businesses and families affected by this latest extreme weather event.

The agricultural sector has been hardest hit. About 10 million plants in Italy’s so-called “fruit valley” were damaged, with vegetable production heavily affected.

“If financial support is not sent immediately, businesses will not be able to reopen,” explained Danilo Verlicchi, director of Confagricoltura Ravenna.

“We don’t want to repeat what happened in other parts of Italy in the past where, after a year, companies are still waiting for funds to arrive.”

Emilia-Romagna is one of Italy’s wealthiest regions and the impact of the floods has raised questions about why funds allocated to counter hydrological instability were never used.

In hard-hit towns, life is slowly getting back to normal.

Although the heavy rains have stopped in recent days, the water level is still high. A town of 2,000 people near the northern city of Ravenna was completely evacuated.

Firefighters transport residents inside and outside the city on a daily basis. For some, this is the first time they can return home to reclaim what they left behind.

“This is the first time I can enter my house since last Thursday,” said one resident. “I wanted to take what I could with me. We have to stay positive. We were able to save our lives! That’s the most important thing.

Many here believe the worst is over, although they remain concerned about the future.

“I lost everything. I’ve lived here for 20 years and I still have to finish paying the mortgage,” said a resident. “Who will pay? I don’t know.”

Local residents and business owners told us they were pleased with the government’s response to the emergency. All they want is support without delay.