Khloponin: 2 billion roubles to be allotted to restore Derbent

As reported by Alexander Khloponin, the plenipotentiary envoy of Russian President in the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD), after a meeting at the Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, "in the near future" two billion roubles will be allocated for elimination of consequences of the flood in Derbent. The flood-affected people say that now, two months after the disaster, the city is still "in a deplorable state."

As Alexander Khloponin told reporters after the above meeting with the Prime Minister on December 13, the budget funds would be allocated for reconstruction of hydraulic facilities, for issuance of housing certificates to the victims, and to restore the water supply and roads.

The Derbent administration has reported that all the victims have already received 10,000 roubles per person of one-time compensation, but not more than 25,000 roubles per family. This is confirmed by volunteers and local residents.

According to volunteers, humanitarian help was rendered to 50 families – they received heaters, clothes and foodstuffs; however, some 120 families more are still in need.

Magomed Khanmagomedov, a journalist from Derbent, believes that "talking about rebuilding the city is too early." The deplorable situation in Derbent is confirmed by locals. On December 11, the NTV Channel showed a report on the consequences of the heavy rain, after which the townspeople spoke very toughly about the restoration. "We're full of fear and afraid to go out into the street. When it's raining, we fear to leave our rooms. We close doors and sit at home," said a resident of the village of Sabnava.

The city administration does not deny problems, but asserts that much has already been done to restore the city: two pumping stations have been restored, says the document published on the website of the administration. Also, 392 households inhabited by 1556 people were qualified as damaged; 30 households inhabited by 132 people – as having completely lost their property; and 1139 households inhabited by 4329 people – as having partially lost their property. So far, 49 households inhabited by 343 people are regarded as not subject to restoration.