ACT members help as floods cause havoc across Europe

Members of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International - a global alliance of churches and related agencies working in the field of humanitarian relief - report that the situation is still critical in large parts of the Czech Republic, southern parts of Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Bulgaria and the Black Sea region of the Russian Federation.

The Czech Republic, where massive damage has been caused by the floodwater and at least 200,000 people been evacuated, two ACT members are providing assistance. Diakonie of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren (ECCB) reports that "the catastrophe continues" and is offering basic assistance to those in need, such as much needed accommodation. ECCB also says that elements of their common system of emergency created in partnership with the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren have been implemented to good effect. The Ecumenical Council of Churches in the Czech Republic (ECC) is setting up Ecumenical Flood Committees for Prague and South Bohemia as these are the two areas where people are in the greatest need of assistance. These committees, comprising local churches, will be the main points for the distribution of humanitarian aid and assessment.

ACT member AIDROM, the Ecumenical Association of Churches in Romania, reports that people who have been displaced by the mass of water are in immediate need of food, temporary shelter and basic hygiene items. AIDROM is concerned that local authorities will not be able to cope with the growing numbers of displaced people.

Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA), another member of ACT, has already provided significant assistance to the flood victims in Hungary. At least 260 houses have been damaged with seven collapsing completely. 179 people were evacuated, although many of them have been able to return to their homes. However, HIA reports that the government is taking preventive measures in view of threats of further flooding of the Danube between Esztergom and Budapest. More evacuations are likely to take place in the coming days.

In response to its members' requests, ACT International is releasing Rapid Response Funds to its members in the Czech Republic and Romania to help with immediate relief efforts. ACT will issue a consolidated appeal that will include coverage of emergency actions in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria.