Bern announced that the solidarity contribution will be used to “support the victims and their relatives”. Meanwhile, after almost eight weeks in the Zurich hospital, fifteen-year-old Elsa from Biella returns to Italy: she will be transferred today to the CTO in Turin
Now two months after the Crans-Montana fire, the Swiss government announced yesterday a solidarity contribution of 50,000 Swiss francs to each family of the victims and seriously injured in the New Year’s Eve tragedy.
The solidarity contribution
The Swiss Federal Council explained that the contribution of approximately 54,575 euros has the aim of “supporting victims and their relatives quickly and easily on an administrative level, helping them overcome immediate financial difficulties and relieving them in the short term”. The sum is added to the aid of 10,000 francs for each victim of the fire. According to Bern, the decision is a demonstration of the Swiss state’s closeness to the victims. And to ensure that the allocation reaches families as quickly as possible, the executive has asked Parliament to declare the new federal law urgent.
The round table
Among the announcements, also that of establishing a round table to help victims, families, insurance companies and authorities to reach out-of-court solutions and thus avoid long legal battles. In this regard, the Federal Council can contribute a maximum of 20 million francs to potential agreements. But the support also extends to the cantons: given that the victims and their relatives are entitled to the services of the cantonal counseling centers, the Federal Council has suggested that the Confederation support part of the extraordinary expenses with 8.5 million francs.
The Beloved Foundation
In recent days, the president of the Beloved foundation, founded after the Crans-Montana tragedy, was also officially announced. In fact, it will be chaired by former federal councilor Doris Leuthard. The council also has nine members who, according to the Canton’s press release, are “personalities recognized for their competence and commitment, particularly in the fields of medicine, assistance to victims and support”. However, if among the members there is a delegate from the families of the French victims, as regards the Italian presence, a delegate has not yet been appointed. Beloved will have an initial endowment of one million francs, but pledges of donations have reached 17 million. The aim is “to provide financial support to the beneficiaries of the deceased, to all injured people, to their directly affected family members, as well as to the operators directly involved in the management of the fire or in the care of the victims, regardless of their place of residence”.
Elsa returns to Italy
In the latest assessment dated February 23, it appears that there are still 58 young people in hospital facilities: 21 are being treated in Swiss hospitals, 28 abroad, while nine are in rehabilitation clinics. And after almost two months spent in the Zurich hospital, fifteen-year-old Elsa, originally from Biella, will return to Italy. In the next few hours she is already expected at the CTO in Turin to continue her treatment. The young student, who has burns on 60% of her body, came out of the coma after 22 days and is now “in stable conditions”. This was communicated by her parents, who added: «Elsa is happy to return to Italy».
