World

Chile to Help Volcano's Victims Return Home

by Jarrett Martineau | May 13, 2008 at 10:28 pm | 195 views | 1 comment | 5 recommendations

The Chilean government has committed to providing aid to residents of the Chaiten region, who hardest hit by the recent volcano in the province, to return to their homes.

Chile's government will give victims of an erupting volcano cash, tax relief and financial help rebuilding their farms and businesses in a bid to get them to return to their homes, the interior minister said Tuesday.
The Chaiten volcano began erupting on May 2, forcing the evacuation of 4,500 residents of the town of Chaiten and hundreds of others from nearby villages and farms.

"Life in Chaiten will never be the same, and those affected must remain assured that their assets will be restored to them," said Interior Minister Edmundo Perez.

Perez announced a plan to aid volcano victims, including one-time cash payments worth $430 per family, plus $43 per child, as well as tax relief, funding to help small business and farms recover, and subsidies for housing and education.