Politics · Switzerland · 1 day ago
Valais defends denying emergency aid to some Crans-Montana fire survivors
Seven survivors of a New Year’s night fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, were reportedly denied emergency aid promised by the authorities.
The aid, funded by the Swiss federal government and Valais canton, totals 60,000 Swiss francs.
The eligibility rules require applicants to have lost a relative or spent time in hospital.
A lawyer for one survivor called the rules arbitrary, saying her client chose not to stay in hospital so seriously injured people could use the bed.
Valais official Mathias Reynard said the canton recognises the survivors’ psychological suffering and is not denying their status as victims.
He said support is being tailored to people’s circumstances, with other assistance available through victim-support laws, a foundation and special aid; no further decision or timetable was given.
Valais is defending its refusal to grant emergency aid and a solidarity payment to seven survivors of the Crans-Montana fire.
The aid, funded by the canton and the federal government, totals 60,000 Swiss francs.
Eligibility requires either the loss of a family member or an overnight hospital stay, according to Valais.
A lawyer for one survivor called the decision shocking and said the hospital-stay criterion was arbitrary.
Valais says it recognizes the survivors’ psychological suffering but cannot place them on the same level as people who meet the aid criteria.
- Who
- Valais authorities denied the aid to seven survivors. A Geneva lawyer represents one of them.
- What
- The survivors were refused emergency aid and a solidarity payment totaling 60,000 Swiss francs.
- When
- The fire happened on New Year’s Eve. The reports of the refusals appeared on Saturday.
- Where
- Crans-Montana, in the canton of Valais, Switzerland.
- Why
- The canton says eligibility requires the loss of a family member or an overnight hospital stay.
Survivors and their representatives
Valais authorities
Eligibility criterion
Survivors and their representatives
The lawyer for one survivor called the hospital-stay requirement arbitrary, saying her client chose to leave a hospital bed to seriously injured people.
Valais authorities
The canton says aid is based on either the loss of a family member or an overnight hospital stay.
How survivors are treated
Survivors and their representatives
The lawyer says the criterion unfairly excluded survivors, including his client.
Valais authorities
Valais says it recognizes the excluded applicants’ psychological suffering but cannot place them on the same level as people who meet the criteria.
The Crans-Montana fire took place.
Media reported that seven survivors had been refused the promised emergency aid.
- Survivors denied aid
- Seven
- Aid amount
- 60,000 Swiss francs
- Eligibility criteria
- Loss of a family member or an overnight hospital stay
- Location
- Crans-Montana, Valais
What people are saying
shocking
The canton of Valais does not want to abandon anyone.
It is not about denying the victim status of the people whose applications were rejected.