C Explanatory Memorandum
1
1. At its Sitting on 15th September, the Consultative Assembly decided to set up a Special Committee to consider ways in which the Council of Europe could assist the devastated areas of Greece. It also instructed that Committee to submit its conclusions before the end of the present Session. The Committee started work immediately and this Report, containing its conclusions, is submitted to the Consultative Assembly for approval.
2. The earthquake, which was of unprecedented violence, began on 9th August and completely destroyed the three Ionian Islands of Cephalonia, Zante and Ithaca. The figures for the disaster show that 481 people were killed and 951 injured. 112,706 people, comprising 22,886 families were rendered homeless. 33,052 buildings were damaged, of which 17,316 were in Cephalonia, 12,739 in Zante and 2,997 in Ithaca. 85 % of these buildings were completely destroyed, and the remainder rendered uninhabitable. Of the 102 churches in the islands few escaped destruction. The same applies to the schools, libraries, museums and hospitals. Indeed, all the schools were destroyed, that is to say, 111 in Cephalonia, 58 in Zante and 3 in Ithaca. Of the 4 libraries and 5 museums in the islands, none has been saved.
3. Greece has already had to bear the heavy burden involved in providing immediate aid to the victims and is now faced with the problem of the reconstruction of the devastated areas. In the face of this grave disaster, Europeans, in a widespread movement of solidarity, have shown their desire to come to the aid of the victims in their most urgent needs as they did at the beginning of the year in the case of the victims of the devastated areas of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Turkey. The Committee of Ministers, moreover, passed a Resolution urging the Governments of member countries to give the greatest possible assistance to Greece in the reconstruction of its devastated areas.
4. The Special Committee has endeavoured to find the most effective ways in which the Council of Europe could help. It considers that the phase of immediate aid to the refugees is over and that it is now in the permanent rebuilding of the devastated towns and villages that the European countries should offer their assistance to the Greeks. This assistance should be of three kinds : that given by the Council of Europe, that given by the Member States individually, and that which can be given through municipalities and local councils. The Committee proposes in particular the adoption by the Council of Europe of an Ionian town or village and that a special fund should be created to this end from contributions by the Council of Europe, Government subscriptions and gifts from local authorities. It also suggests that the Member States should be asked to adopt towns and villages in the Ionian Islands and that an appeal should be launched to European municipalities urging such adoption.
5. In view of the success of the appeal launched throughout Europe by the Special Committee on Municipal and Regional Affairs for the adoption of villages in the devastated areas of the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Belgium and Turkey, the Special Committee on the problem of the Greek Earthquake Victims proposes that that Committee should again be responsible for launching a similar appeal in this particular case.
6. The Committee submits to the Assembly the following draft Recommendation and draft Order, which were unanimously adopted.
