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Romania

Romania: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 2

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2005/0116

OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Romania - Floods

This situation report is based on information from various sources, including the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Romania, as well as donor governments.

Situation

1. The situation in the affected areas is still critical and since the previous Situation Report of 15 July the number of affected localities has risen from 581 to 700. The figure for affected agricultural areas has also been revised upwards, from 88,000 ha to 94,000 ha. Even though floods are receding the situation is still critical as people are still unable to return to their homes.

National response

2. The authorities are providing food, water and shelter to the evacuated population. Vaccinations against hepatitis A and typhoid are being administered. Efforts to drain water, remove animal corpses and administer pest control against insects are ongoing.

UN and other response

3. The UN Country Team has been mobilized and the Resident Coordinator and the Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS are in constant contact with the Government.

4. The Red Cross in Romania has assisted the population by helping with evacuation and by providing food, blankets, as well as water purification units. The International Federation of the Red Cross has granted CHF 240,938 from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund and has also issued a Minor Emergency Appeal.

International Assistance

5. As of this date, OCHA has been informed of the following contributions:

Czech Republic

Power generator (220/380 V - 24 to 60 kVA) - 9 sets
Personal packages (food and hygienic equipment for 1 person/1 day) - 4.500 pieces

Germany

The THW (Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk, German Federal Agency for Technical Relief) has been monitoring the situation since the occurrence of the first floods in May and has had a team of 32 technicians for 3 weeks in the region of Timisoara on a bilateral base. The THW informed the humanitarian community through the Virtual OSOCC that the Romanian Embassy in Berlin asked for assistance and that a fact finding mission was scheduled to fly to Romania on 17 July.

Hungary

Medical and rescue team (13 members, 2 trucks) with necessary equipment (1 field kitchen, 2 mud pumps, 2 outboard engine boats, 3 electrical generators 5kVA, 1 rescue bag kit, 4 urgent medical kit, medicines and bandages, etc.) The team reached the Romanian border on 16 July. Assistance provided also includes an additional water purification team (8 members, 4 trucks, 3 trailers).

Poland

Water Purification tablets, 1200 kg
Blankets, 1500 pcs
Antibiotics and anti-diarrhoea medicine.

6. OCHA is monitoring the situation and remains in close contact with UNDP through the UN Resident Coordinator's Office, IFRC, NATO and interested donors and will revert with further information as it becomes available.

7. This Situation Report and information on ongoing emergencies is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

MAP - Romania: Floods

Tel. +41-22-917 1234
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:

Ms. Charlotta Benedek
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1205
E-mail: benedek@un.org

Mr. Ricardo Mena
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1455
E-mail: menar@un.org

Press contact:

(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
(N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Direct Tel. +1-917-892 1669

Disclaimer

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.