Hundreds of Zagatala Region Residents Demand Compensation from the Executive Power

About 150 people gathered on Tuesday morning, near the executive power building of Zagatala region, demanding compensation promised by the government. In May of 2012, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake damaged to thousands of homes in this area.

In recent days, a great number of villagers have asked authorities to solve their problems and complain the unfair distribution of state aid. Today, representatives of the affected villages came to the head of the executive power, demanding a final respond to their complaints.

Unrest provoked inappropriate actions by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, which did not keep its promise to build houses or repair the affected homes.

According to sources in Zagatala, at 16:00 the situation was calm, with people waiting for a response from the authorities.

After the earthquake, President Ilham Aliyev and the government promised to pay damages to all citizens by the end of 2012. In June, 320 million manat was allocated to build 3,500 houses, 35 schools, and repair  thousands of homes. However, these promises have not been fulfilled. The Minister of Emergency Situations, Kamaladdin Heydarov stated, allegedly, that by January 7, 2984 houses and 22 schools have been built. 

However, according to unofficial reports, no more than 600-700 houses have been built, with almost all the funds allocated to the earthquake zone, squandered.

A critical situation also exsists is in the neighboring Balakan region, where 2,500 homes were affected after a second earthquake in September.

 Another similar situation is observed in the Zagatala-Balakan region, in the Kura Valley, where, after severe flooding in May 2010 the government allocated 460 million manat, most of which was stolen. This led to repeated protests by the local population, and in response, the authorities started repressions against local activists and members of the "Kura” staff.— 0—