Extraordinary Council of Ministers of September 17, 2024
Article translated from the Portuguese Republic Website
Photo: Diana Quintela/Government Portal
The Government has declared a state of emergency in all municipalities affected by the fires in recent days.
The announcement was made by the Prime Minister at the end of an extraordinary Council of Ministers convened to analyse “the entire situation relating to the fires and their consequences”, in a meeting chaired by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, at the invitation of Luís Montenegro.
This declaration of a state of emergency will allow the Government’s multidisciplinary team, coordinated by the Deputy Minister for Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, to “offer the most immediate and urgent support to those who do not have shelter at home, accommodation for the next few days, to those who have been left without the means to feed themselves, to clothe themselves, to have access to the most basic daily needs”.
Luís Montenegro also announced the creation of exceptional regimes so that public servants, especially firefighters, can dedicate themselves fully to operations related to fighting and dealing with the consequences of fires.
The Prime Minister also announced that, together with the President of the Republic and “all Members of the Government”, an initial analysis was carried out on the possibility of activating the European Union Solidarity Fund “if the requirements for such activation are met”.
Luís Montenegro stressed that the Government will not abandon “these criminals” nor this “fight against those who put the entire country at risk”.
Read the original article here: https://www.portugal.gov.pt/pt/gc24/comunicacao/noticia?i=governo-declara-situacao-de-calamidade-em-todos-os-municipios-afetados-pelos-incendios