Thu Sep 19 08:19:58 UTC 2024: ## European Leaders to Meet in Poland to Discuss Aid for Flood-Hit Region
**Wroclaw, Poland:** The leaders of four countries devastated by Storm Boris will meet in Wroclaw, Poland on Thursday to discuss aid for the flood-hit region. The meeting, which will include Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, will also be attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The storm, which struck central and eastern Europe last week, has resulted in a death toll of 24 and left many areas under threat from rising waters. Strong winds and heavy rains caused widespread damage, including the destruction of houses, bridges, and infrastructure. Some areas are still without drinking water or electricity.
The meeting in Wroclaw aims to coordinate aid efforts and discuss the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The Czech Republic has already requested the mechanism’s activation to receive aid. Leaders will also discuss measures for better flood protection coordination in the future.
European Commission President von der Leyen will visit the affected areas in Wroclaw to assess the situation firsthand and discuss the authorities’ response to the crisis. Austria has pledged to increase its disaster relief fund to €1 billion to help flood victims, while Poland has released €470 million in direct aid.
The meeting comes as communities grapple with the aftermath of the storm, with many residents still struggling to recover from the devastation. Grassroots funding initiatives are underway across the affected countries as authorities begin to assess the billions of euros worth of damage.
First Piper 