As part of Operation “Feniks”, the army will help rebuild areas destroyed by the flood in the coming months – said Deputy Minister of National Defense Cezary Tomczyk. In his opinion, the state services “passed the test” and responded appropriately to the flood.
Tomczyk was asked in TOK FM about the military operation “Feniks” that began on Monday, which is intended to accelerate reconstruction in post-flood areas.
– Operation “Phoenix” is, as the name suggests, recovery from the flood crisis. We want the army to be on site in the Lower Silesian and Opole provinces for the next few months and, step by step, help local government authorities and central administration rebuild crossings, roads, bridges, to help provide electricity, to protect the civilian population – the deputy minister replied.
He said that this type of support requires a systemic solution, which is why military groups will be formed on site. – Logistical and engineering, which will be able to allocate forces and resources to individual local government officials and will help in the reconstruction of the crossings – he explained.
The deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense gave the example of the reconstruction of the bridge in Głuchołazy, but also of support for the health service. – The district hospital in Nysa is still not operating. A field hospital has been set up there, which will have to operate for many weeks until the district hospital can be opened – he added.
Collapsed bridge in GłuchołazyMichal Meissner/PAP
Tomczyk: state services passed the exam
– One thing is certain. Today, when it comes to the operation and coordination of services, I have a great feeling that the state services there have passed an exceptional test, that they will continue to pass this test in the coming weeks and months, because this work is not over – he noted.
He also recalled that in some places the Prime Minister Donald Tusk he replaced mayors with firefighters who headed crisis management teams. – Where local government officials failed to cope (…). But these are things that require explanation step by step. I really could give 10 examples today where, for example, a mayor in a given commune made a mistake, but I don't want to do that today – he said.
– Mayors who were dismissed from their positions regarding crisis management are today defending what they did. And they are doing it in one way or another. But they will also – perhaps – be held responsible for various types of negligence that happened there and they have the right to their own line of defense – he noted. He also added that all such issues will be determined in the near future.
Tomczyk: Territorial Defense Forces have proven themselves in combat
Tomczyk was also asked about the value of the Territorial Defense Forces and his earlier criticism of that formation. – Everything I said concerned the subordination of the Territorial Defense Forces to the Minister of National Defense. Those were key things. However, we also said then, and I say it now, that territorial defense also existed earlier (…). Territorial Defense Forces They are needed, they proved themselves in combat today – he said.
Main image source: Michal Meissner/PAP