Concerns are emerging regarding the pace of aid disbursement following the devastating floods that impacted North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) in 2021. A recent report by WDR indicates a sluggish rollout of funds intended to help municipalities and citizens recover from the disaster.
Specifically, the support provided to cities and towns for the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure – including roads, railways and bridges – is reportedly proceeding slowly. Despite the state government’s commitment of €2.8 billion, only approximately €900 million has been disbursed thus far.
NRW’s Minister for Municipal Affairs, Ina Scharrenbach, attributes the delays in infrastructure funding to procedural bottlenecks faced by the municipalities themselves. According to Minister Scharrenbach, the state requires detailed accounting documentation before releasing funds, a process she states some municipalities have struggled to complete. She emphasized ongoing efforts to assist the municipalities with this process and expressed hope for improvement.
In contrast, the support provided to individual citizens impacted by the floods appears to be progressing more effectively. Minister Scharrenbach stated that around €865 million has been allocated for the reconstruction of privately owned homes and the replacement of household belongings. She reported that over 98% of applications have been finalized and roughly 85% of the funds have been distributed.