Europe Floods - Bulgaria: Assistance to Flood Affected

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: US$ 229,743

Several countries in eastern Europe have been affected by severe flooding as major rivers overflowed due to heavy rains and melting snow in the month of April. The ACT Co-ordinating Office has been approached by its members in Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria and is in the process of issuing three appeals for the Europe Floods. The appeal for Romania (EURO61) was issued on 22 May.

This appeal deals with the floods in Bulgaria and the response of ACT member Pokrov Foundation.

A comparatively mild winter in Bulgaria was followed by an extremely wet spring resulting in rivers flowing at a higher than normal level in the whole Balkan region. This culminated in several weeks of serious flooding in the northern part of Bulgaria where seven municipalities were inundated. The areas worst affected were those near rivers flowing into the river Danube and near the Danube itself which was swollen with water from melted snow. A large swathe of farmland and low-lying villages in Bulgaria and Romania have been swamped by the overflowing Danube, which forms the border between the two countries. The areas most severely affected in Bulgaria include the municipalities of Vidin, Veliko Tarnovo (Svishtov county), Vratza (Kozloduj county), Pleven (Nikopol county), Montana (Lom and Vylchedram counties), Ruse (the villages Nova cherna, Brashlen, Rjahovo,Babovo, Slivo pole county) and Silistra municipality (the city itself). A state of emergency was declared in 12 districts in Bulgaria.

The affected regions happen to be among the poorest in the country and their population depends mainly on subsistence agriculture. In most of these areas there is a mixed population – Bulgarian, Roma, Vlahos and Turkish families. The most seriously affected in the small villages are the poor families with more than 3 children and elderly people. Many of the buildings that have been totally destroyed are made of sun-dried bricks and belong to extremely poor families.

ACT member, the Pokrov Foundation, plans to assist in the crisis stage with food parcels, household equipment, blankets and animal fodder. During the post crisis, Pokrov will assist the most vulnerable families with building materials and agricultural inputs – including livestock.

Project Completion Date: 30 November 2006

Reporting Schedule

• Mid term report to be submitted to ACT CO by 30 September 2006, within one month of mid-term of project.
• Final narrative and financial reports to be submitted to ACT CO by 31 January 2007, within two months of closure of project
• Audit report to be submitted to ACT CO by 28 February 2007, within three months of closure of project.

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested (US$)

Total Appeal Target(s): 265,974
Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.: 36,230
Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: 229,743  

Signed by:

John Nduna
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office