B4-1125/95

Resolution on the severe storms in southern Chile

The European Parliament,

A.having regard to the recent storms which hit six regions of Chile, with temperatures of -25· (thermic temperatures of -30·), the most severely affected regions from 11 to 16 August 1995 being Aysén and Magallanes, and whereas this has meant the total or partial destruction of port installations, small craft industries and telecommunications networks,

B.whereas the damage to agriculture includes the loss of over 800 000 sheep and 70 000 cattle and the destruction of 70% of the winter pastures of the region and the loss of all the 1995 harvests,

C.whereas the Commission is providing significant Community aid for the small stockbreeders, farmers and traditional fishermen, whose households total some 20 000 persons,

1.Proposes the granting of material aid for reconstruction to the sum of at least ECU 1 million;

2.Calls for this aid to be concentrated on the poorest victims and to be channelled, by preference, via NGOs, the churches, the Red Cross, the Agricultural and Stockbreeding Service (SAG) and social organizations;

3.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Chile, the authorities of the provinces of Aysén and Magallanes and the liaison committee of development NGOs.