TBILISI, DFWatch – A bill to amend the 2012 budget to free money for cleanup work and compensation after a storm July 19 has been passed by parliament in Georgia.

The total size of the budget, more than 7 billion lari, has not been changed. Instead, money has been redistributed.

The amendment bill was approved by 89 votes against 0.

The changes involve a 50 million lari fund being set up to be used directly for dealing with disaster. An additional 80 million lari fund is being established for the development of the region hit by the storm, Kakheti. This includes financings from donors.

162 million lari is allocated in total for the disaster, which includes a 2 million lari tranche of damaged municipalities.

The amendment also involves adding 6 million lari to the Health Ministry’s budget, to be spent on job seekers and refugee necessities. At the same time, the social and healthcare program of the Health Ministry is decreased by several thousand lari, including a 50 thousand lari for program for drug addicts.

The following bodies had their budget reduced to free money for dealing with the effects of the natural disaster: the State Minister for Reintegration Issues, a 1 350 000 lari cut to 1 280 000 lari; the Finance Ministry – from 115 759 000 to 110 759 000; Economy Ministry – from 108 463 700 to 79 097 400, Prison Ministry – from 125 000 000 to 124 900 000; Foreign Affairs Ministry – from 91 000 000 to 83 500 000; Interior Ministry – from 585 200 000 to 585 050 000 lari; Education Ministry – from 600 880 000 to 600 680 000 lari, Refugee Ministry – from 36 400 000 to 36 300 000; Energy Ministry – from 9 100 000 lari to 8 950 000 lari, Environment Ministry – from 16 881 000 to 16 831 000 lari, Sports Ministry – from 59 209 500 to 59 089 500 lari, Regional Development Ministry – from 348 106 400 to 254 106 400 lari.