23/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 23 July, Poland asked the European Commission to provide cash from the European Solidarity Fund to help rebuild infrastructure in Poland that was destroyed in the severe flooding in May and June of this year. The flood damage is estimated to be more than €2.9 billion and therefore more than 0.6% of Poland's gross domestic product for 2009, which means that financial aid can be requested from the European Commission, explains a Polish Interior Ministry press release. Poland says that around 266,000 people were affected by the floods in 811 local communities. Some 31,000 people had to be evacuated, some 1,160 km of trunk roads, 80,000 km of local roads, 400 km of rail and 59 bridges were damaged by the floods and 1,300 km of dykes had to be reinforced or reconstructed. (L.C./transl.fl)