With a characteristic lack of urgency, two further Lisbon politicians have been lined up to show that the government really cares and will sign a protocol to help those devastated by the August fire in Monchique.
The Secretary of State for Housing, Ana Pinho, and the Secretary of State for Spatial Planning and Nature Conservation, Célia Ramos, will attend the signing ceremony of the 'Protocol of Institutional Cooperation between the Municipality of Monchique and the Institute Housing and Urban Rehabilitation.'
Following the fire that took place last August, in an act of underwhelming munificence, the government managed to 'provide support' for a Council survey of householders whose homes were affected.
Four months after the fire, the Institute of Housing and Urban Rehabilitation and the Municipal Council of Monchique are signing the document on December 12, at the Council offices.
The Protocol should help 95 people who were made homeless. Provision also has been made for fixing up 38 damaged properties and 'help with the rent' will be given to 14 people.
About half of the homes burned in August face "legal obstacles to reconstruction," according to the Mayor but he signed the agreement anyway so that work could start at least at some of the homes destroyed or affected by fire.
The ICNF has given negative opinions to half of the applications for rebuilding permanent dwellings as these are within 50 metres of the neighbouring land and technically do not comply with fire break regulations.
In total, under the ‘Porta de Entrada’ programme, financial support of €2.3 million is said to be available.
Algarve Left Bloc MP, João Vasconcelos, well aware that local help has been instrumental in keeping many victims from hunger and despair, said last Friday that, "If it were not for the action and solidarity of many volunteers from civil society, families, associations, town councils, city council and other entities, the scenario would be much more desolate and the difficulties more serious."
