Details of Payment 

Emergency: Flash Floods in Eastern Romania

Date of Emergency: 5 – 7 September 2007

Implementing Partner:  Social Department of the Regional Orthodox Archbishop’s Office, Reformed Church of Eastern Romania/Galati Region

Details of the Emergency:  While the southern regions of Romania are still recovering from last year’s Danube floods, the region has again been hit by a fatal combination of torrential rains and strong winds causing massive flooding and extensive damages over a large area in the Province of Moldavia, eastern Romania. Dozens of villages in the eastern counties of Bacau, Vrancea, Galati and Vaslui were isolated as the floods blocked roads and cut off electricity.  Around 4,000 people were evacuated from their homes as about 1.000 houses were flooded.

By 8 September the death toll due to the floods in eastern Romania rose to seven with one person still missing. The most affected by the torrential rain/flash floods are the villages of Toflea, Tepu, Podul Turcului, Glavanesti, Motoseni, Tecuci, Munteni, Tiganesti, Ghidigeni, Frunzeasca, Munteni, Buciumeni, Draganesti, Nicoresti, Vizuresti, Negrilesti, Priponesti and Brahasesti.

800 emergency workers and volunteers as well as 120 units of heavy equipment have been deployed round the clock to reinforce flood defences.  However, water is seeping through the improvised dams and embankments and it is impossible to use heavy equipment such as bulldozers.   There are many rotting carcases of animals as well as sewage in the floodwaters and the local health authorities fear an epidemic once the waters recede.  A vaccination campaign has already started against typhoid fever, tetanus and hepatitis A.

Army vehicles and helicopters are being used to deliver supplies (tinned food, oil, sugar, fuel) but these are insufficient taking into consideration the number of people affected.   Local and county authorities are working to re-establish road access to isolated areas in order to give access to humanitarian aid deliveries foreseen for the next days.

Proposed Assistance:

ACT member AIDROM responded swiftly to the breaking emergency by deploying its team in one of the worst affected regions – Galati. The most urgent needs are food, potable water and hygiene articles.

AIDRom Emergency Unit has initiated the first phase response through packing of 725 individual relief food parcels, with a standard content of non perishable food and mineral water, ready for immediate delivery and distribution to the most vulnerable flood affected.  This is being done in co-ordination with other relief agencies such as the Red Cross, churches and government authorities.   The relief food packages will cover the basic nutritional needs for an average person during the period of the crisis according to Sphere guidelines.

AIDRom is planning an ACT Appeal for the affected villages in the province of Moldavia, prioritizing assistance to the most vulnerable in the county of Galati as follows: hygiene kits, drink water security (well cleanings), home reconstruction materials and kits, household tool inputs.

Implementation Period: one month

BUDGET

ACTION

The ACT Co-ordinating Office  has approved the use of  US$ 50,000 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful  to receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish this payment.  This will be treated as an advance on any forthcoming appeal, for which Aidrom have indicated a proposal is under preparation.