The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on Feb. 5 that it will urgently provide 3 billion won in disaster special grants to 17 provinces and metropolitan cities nationwide to respond to wildfires and drought.
The decision was made in light of a series of wildfires occurring across the country recently and emergency water supply being carried out in some island areas of South Gyeongsang and South Jeolla.
The disaster special grants will be used for prevention activities such as wildfire monitoring, guidance and publicity, and for drought relief projects such as pipeline maintenance and the installation of small-scale seawater desalination facilities.
Yoon Ho-jung, Minister of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), said, "Please make every effort for proactive and thorough preemptive preparedness and a step-ahead response by local governments so that wildfires and drought do not lead to major disasters," adding, "We will spare no necessary support to minimize damage and inconvenience to the public from various disasters."