Emergency: Floods in southern Romania

Date of Emergency: April 2006

Implementing Partner: AIDRom

Details of the Emergency: The river Danube, swollen by heavy rains and melting snow following a harsh winter, is now flowing at a record of 16,000 cubic meters/second causing havoc in the southern Romanian provinces. Across the southern region, thousands of emergency workers and volunteers have been deployed round the clock to reinforce defenses and battle the churning waters, trying to bolster dikes along the Danube, which has surged to its highest level in more than a century. A state of emergency has been declared in 12 Romanian counties. More rain has been forecast and experts warn of further flooding. Authorities have started controlled flooding to divert water away from low-lying villages.

Local health authorities fear an epidemic of water borne diseases and vaccination has already started against typhoid fever, tetanus and hepatitis A. The water level in the Danube has started to recede slightly, but civil protection authorities are warning of the danger of dams collapsing due to the massive pressure of the flood waters. To date 9,526 persons have been evacuated, 3,000 are on stand-by.

Proposed assistance: AIDRom Emergency Unit carried out a needs assessment 19-21 April in the county of Dolj in Southern Romania, one of the most affected areas. As floodwaters destroyed their homes, people have tried to salvage what they could of their possessions, and set up improvised shelters made of plastic, foil and wooden sticks. It is currently impossible to reach the flooded villages except by boat or army vehicles. Damages are immense and it is impossible in this moment to plan and asses to what extent AIDRom will be involved in a post crisis rehabilitation program once the waters recede. AIDRom Emergency Unit will return to the area at the weekend or the first week in May to distribute emergency relief parcels. The situation will then be assessed for a post crisis intervention.

The current most urgent needs are food, potable water and hygiene articles. AIDRom Emergency Unit plans to assist 500 of the most vulnerable of the evacuated families from the villages of Rast, Negoi, Catane, Bistertul Nou and Bechet in the county of Dolj. This particular area was targeted for assistance as it has the largest number of displaced persons and AIDRom has a trustworthy implementing partner in the area - namely the local Social Services of the Orthodox Archbishop Office of Craiova and local authorities.

AIDRom Emergency Unit has already initiated the packing of 500 family relief food parcels, with a standard content of 35 kg of non perishable food and 15 liters of mineral water (sufficient for an average family of 2 adults and 2 children for a period of one month), to be ready for immediate delivery and distribution the first few days in May to the area/community/refugee camp where needs are the most urgent according to the assessment carried out. Implementation will take about one month.

BUDGET

ACTION The ACT Co-ordinating Office has approved the use of US50,000 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful to receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish this payment.