Afghanistan veterans threaten with protests over cold-period benefits

Afghanistan war veterans are threatening to stage protests unless the Government restores the 171 lei category-based benefit, also known as a nominative compensation, to which veterans were previously entitled to help them cope with their heating bills in the cold period of the year, Info-Prim Neo reports. Afghanistan War Veterans Union head Mihail Mocanu told a meeting of the National Council on Armed Conflicts Participants that he was daily receiving complaints from veterans. “The veterans’ numbers don’t grow. They are fewer and fewer with time. Last month, we lost four comrades and this is an alarming tendency”, he said. Social Protection Minister Valentina Buliga said that following recent amendments, needy war veterans were entitled to social aid, just like any other persons in difficulty, under a means-tested program. Previously, even those veterans with pensions as high as 4000 lei were able to receive compensations, which wasn’t fair, she said. To obtain social aid, Afghanistan veterans in need are encouraged to submit an application to the respective territorial social insurance office.