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Cameron: money is no object in flood relief effort

12 February 2014 01:28 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. British Prime Minister David Cameron said at a press conference Tuesday that "money is no object" in flood relief effort, adding that a new committee would be set up to lead the recovery in flood-hit areas, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"Whatever money is needed for it, it will be spent. We will take whatever steps are necessary," said Cameron.

He said a visit to the Middle East next week would be cancelled, so that he could stay in the country to solve the problems.

Up to 10 million pounds (16.5 million U.S. dollars) new funding would be allocated to support farmers and grants for homeowners and businesses would be made available to improve flood defence, he added.

Cameron said the problem of the Thames Valley is very serious, and the Cobra meeting later would discuss further actions that need to be taken.

Cameron also urged that insurances companies need to pay out quickly, and for people who have no insurance, the government will top up hardship funds to help them.

Troops have been dispatched to Surrey, Staines, Middlesex and Berkshire, after defence secretary Philip Hammond said before that a total of 1,600 troops have been drafted to southern England to help tackle the floods.

"Thousand of marines and commandos are available to help," Cameron said, adding that military could play a community support role in the flood relief efforts.

However, it needs time to restore the rail services in parts of the affected region, he said.

The Environment Agency has issued 14 severe flood warnings in place for the bank of the Thames. While the Met Office has also warned high winds, disruption to transport and power supplies would occur in southern Britain on Wednesday.

Scientists also warned that groundwater levels in parts of Britain have been risen since the wet weather soaked the soil, which could make those parts face risks of groundwater flooding.

As of now, the Environment Agency has issued groundwater flood alerts in some parts of southern Britain, including south London, Kent, Surrey and Berkshire.