Meeting on spring flood relief

The meeting was attended by Government members, senior officials of relevant ministries, and heads of the flood-affected regions and municipalities.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon.

Today, we will discuss issues of relieving the consequences of severe floods in the Orenburg, Kurgan, and Tyumen regions. Our meeting is being attended by Government members, senior officials of relevant ministries, as well as heads of the affected regions, and, at my request, heads of the municipalities affected by floods will also work with us today.

At the moment, the Orenburg Region is in the most challenging situation. Several residential areas remain flooded, and the water level is slow to subside.

Reports on developments in the flooded areas are coming in regularly. We are in constant contact with the Emergencies Minister - I spoke to him this morning - and the Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities. Both travel to the regions to analyse the situation and assess the damage.

According to the incoming reports, enough resources have been mobilised to ensure a proper response to the flooding. The rescuers, jointly with our colleagues on the ground and staff of other federal departments, security and law enforcement agencies, and - I want to specifically mention this - volunteers are taking professional and coordinated efforts.

I want to ask the federal, regional, and local authorities to continue rendering all the necessary support to the flood victims, including monetary compensation, and responding to every complaint or request from our citizens. It is also necessary to keep monitoring the epidemiological and sanitary situation, forestall speculative hikes in prices of essential goods, and provide timely medical and legal assistance to the flood victims.

To be continued.