Although it has passed almost a year since the great fire of August that broke out in Varybobi, its devastating consequences in many places are still evident.
Burnt houses and trees. Residents complain that they have completely forgotten them and a year later the state has not given the compensation that was due and the demolition permits, to allow people to build their homes.
«They forgot about us»
As the Nikos Deuteraios, a resident of Varibobi, on Open TV, «Unfortunately nothing has changed a year later. At the moment the state has given four demolition permits to the 77 houses that have burned down» and added that «even some families whose house burned down completely - like mine - cut off their rent subsidy. My mother lived in Varybobi, the house burned down and now I pay rent in Nea Ionia».
Deuteraios accused the state services for a long delay, saying «they have not learned from Mati. Every year Greece burns what they have done. When did they call for us to be trained to put out our own houses. They don't do anything. They only burn Greece».
Poor compensation from the State
«The 80,000 that the state gives as compensation it is meager. We united the residents and help each other, if we wait for the state to save us we are burned» he said. Mr. Deuteraio stressing the risk of abandonment of the area as many residents choose not to return as they cannot afford to fix their homes «they come and see burnt houses and no demolition permits have been given as the building inspector is stuck».
