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Romania Floods Situation Report No.4

Countries
Romania
Sources
UN DHA
Publication date

REVISED APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
FINDINGS OF THE UNDAC MISSION
1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Various parts of Romania have been suffering from heavy rains (which caused flooding and/or landslides) and hailstorms, throughout the months of June (the latter half), July, and August 1997.

1.2 Following the first phase of rains in June-July, the Government of Romania made a request, through DHA, for assistance from the international community, which was reflected in DHA's situation report dated 1 July 1997. While most of the then-identified relief requirements remain un-met to date, a new phase of heavy rains and hailstorms in late July-early August caused further damage throughout Romania.

1.3 According to the Government, the disaster affected a total of 25 counties in varying periods during June-August, including Alba, Arad, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Buzau, Dimbovita, Galati, Hunedoara, Maramures, Mures, Sibiu, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vrancea, Prahova, Bacau, Iasi, Suceava, Teleorman, Olt, Dolj, and Caras-Severin. As of 8 August, the Romanian Government reported the major damage to include 20 deaths, 24,464 houses destroyed, 295,085 ha of agricultural land affected, and damaged infrastructure (675 km of roads, 334 bridges, 317 public buildings, 43 hydro constructions, electric lines, water supply networks, telephone lines, and sewage systems). The total losses are estimated by the Government at 800 billion ROL (approximately USD 110 million).

2. UNDAC MISSION

2.1. While general data on the damage was released by the Government, no specific information was made available on new/adjusted relief requirements (taking also into account the renewed rains/hailstorms in August) and on their prioritization, an essential factor for the effective and appropriate provision of potential donor assistance. To assist the Government in verifying the available data and determining/prioritizing current emergency relief requirements, DHA deployed, at the request of the DHA/UNDP Resident Representative in Bucharest, a four-person UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team on 14 August.

2.2 After initial consultations with the Government, the UNDAC team split into two field teams, each consisting of UNDAC members and UNDP staff, accompanied by 3 Government experts (one each from the Department for Public Administration, the Ministry of Water, Forest, and Environmental Protection, and the Civil Protection Command), travelling in two vehicles. One UNDAC member remained in the capital as a focal point for analyzing and coalescing the information transmitted from the field (via satellite/mobile phone communications) and for further information gathering/clarification and liaison with the relevant government entities and Bucharest-based representatives of the donor community.

2.3 During the four-day field mission, one of the field teams visited the following four counties north/northeast of Bucharest: Prahova (Breaza and Telega towns, and Milicesti village), Bacau (towns of Buhusi and Tirgu Ocna and municipalities of Enachesti, Sanduleni, Versesti, and Valea Rea), Suceava (Suceava city, and municipalities of Berkicesti, Voronet, Vama, and Ciumirna), and Iasi (town of Hirlau and municipalities of Parcuvaci, Ticau, Vladiceni, and Cetatuia). The other field team visited the following four counties west/southwest of Bucharest: Teleorman (Alexandria, Stejaru, Tatarasti), Dolj (Craiova, Appelevii, Celaru), Caras-Severin (Resita), and Olt (Slatina). Counties visited were selected, jointly with the Government authorities concerned, on the basis of the most urgent/serious requirements.

3. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS IN 8 VISITED COUNTIES

3.1 Prahova County - Landslides on 2-6 and 13 August affected the county, especially the towns of Breaza, Telega, and Comarnic. Due to the on-going destruction of houses by the landslides, the most urgent need is to provide pre-fabricated housing units to enable the relocation of 23-53 families (16 in Breaza, 7 in Milicesti village, and possibly/probably 30 more in Telega) from the poorest segment of the population, who have no means to rebuild their houses. Also urgently needed is the repair of damaged infrastructure, especially gas pipelines (on which some 50,000 persons rely), as well as roads and bridges. In the medium-term, it is necessary to undertake the stabilization of the areas still under threat of further landslides.

3.2 Bacau County - This county was hit by floods, hailstorms, and landslides throughout July and August. Priority need for the county is the provision of roofing materials to repair some 500 damaged roofs (of houses and public buildings). 20,000 ha of crops (i..e, 60-70 percent of the expected harvest) have been damaged, and the provision of food and seeds to the rural farming population is also a priority requirement. Furthermore, damaged infrastructure (e.g., 125 km of roads, 297m of bridges, 16 schools, 4 health centers, and 4 public buildings) needs repairing.

3.3 Suceava County - The county, having been affected by floods in 1995 and 1996, suffered further damage in 1997 caused by heavy rains (15 June-10 July) and hailstorms (6-7 August), worsening situations which had remained un-solved. Assistance needs in this county are mostly for reconstruction/rehabilitation, including the reconstruction of a damaged (strategically located) river embankment and dikes, the repairing of damaged roads, and the stabilization of the areas under threat of further landslides. The provision of potato seeds is also required, as over 8,000 ha of potato fields were lost (due to a parasite which could not be treated, on account of the rain), decreasing the harvest by some 80 percent. Support should also be given to ensure the operation and maintenance of the existing automatic floods warning system.

3.4 Iasi County - The county suffered mainly from rainfalls in late 1996 and early 1997 which led to landslides (earth-movements) at certain sites. Houses have been affected by moving ground since 27 April 1997, in Ticau (30 houses) and Valdiceni village (21 houses), and inhabitants are in need of construction materials for re-building new houses. Measures also need to be taken to stabilize the areas still under threat of landslides. Additionally, though not directly related to the recent disaster, the team noted a prevailing humanitarian need in Parcuvaci village (86 houses) whose inhabitants require assistance for the relocation of their houses, on account of the continuously sinking land.

3.5 Teleorman County - The county suffered from hailstorms on 20 June and also from flooding in some parts. In the 4 most severely affected villages, losses are estimated by the county at 110 billion ROL (USD 15 million). Major damage is to houses (323 houses) and public buildings (40), as well as to agriculture (32,306 ha).

3.6 Dolj County - This county also suffered damage caused by hailstorms and floods. In the most severely struck 4 villages, the disaster affected some 1,872 households, 65,261 ha of agricultural land (of which 15,499 ha destroyed completely), and 53 public buildings. Total financial losses are estimated by the county officials at 66 billion ROL (USD 9 million).

3.7 Caras-Severin County - Due to the strong storm of 25 July, 21 villages were affected, including 610 houses damaged (out of which 5 destroyed) and 2,270 ha of agricultural land destroyed (to a degree varying from 30-100 percent). Total losses are estimated by the county officials at 5 billion ROL (USD 700,000).

3.8 Olt County - The county suffered from floods, hailstorms, and landslides on 20-23 June and 8 August, which affected 28 towns/villages and 63,000 ha of agricultural land and caused damage to infrastructure (150 public buildings, 30 km of roads, 12 km of electrical power lines, and 28 telephone centers).

4. OVERALL CONCLUSION

4.1 Having verified and analyzed the damage data and needs estimates provided by the county/local officials, the UNDAC team confirmed that the disaster had caused lasting damage especially to agricultural land, crops, and infrastructure (roads, electricity/water/gas supply systems, drainage canals, public buildings, and houses). In general, the emergency relief phase of the disaster appears to have passed, and the focus of assistance now is shifting towards the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the damaged/destroyed infrastructure and agricultural land. In view especially of the fact that a large portion of the damage was caused by the rains in June-July, there was little visual impression (with the exception of continuing landslides) of an on-going disaster, and much of the current suffering of the victims can be best addressed in the framework of post-emergency rehabilitation assistance.

4.2 However, the UNDAC team also confirmed that there were localities still requiring urgent assistance to mitigate immediate effects of the disaster, or to minimize potential damage, especially for these areas still under threat of further landslides. These emergency needs exist, focusing mostly in the following identified priority areas: 1) shelter/housing and 2) food and agriculture.

5. ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

5.1 Based on its verification of the information provided by the county/local governments, the UNDAC team identified, for the 8 visited counties, urgent relief requirements (as distinct from medium-to-long-term rehabilitation/reconstruction needs), which are listed below. While concentrating primarily on its mandated task for immediate relief needs, the UNDAC team also made every effort to determine priority post-emergency assistance requirements. A further update on the appeal will be issued on priority requirements in the remaining 17 affected counties (not visited by the Team), as soon as the information is received from the Government.

5.2 Immediate Assistance Needs:

Donors are strongly encouraged to provide assistance to meet urgent relief needs in the following areas:

a) Shelter/Housing:

Priority 1

Roofing/construction materials (e.g., roofing sheets, wood, cement, bricks) - Counties of Prahova, Bacau, Suceava, Iasi, Dolj, Caras-Severin, Teleorman, and Olt.

Priority 2

Pre-fabricated housing units - Counties of Prahova (23 units), Teleorman (2 units), and Olt (5 units). An additional 30 units will be required in Prahova county within the next 6-8 weeks.

b) Food/Agriculture:

Priority 1

Food (e.g., flour, sugar, sunflower oil, canned meat, wheat, corn, barley, milk powder, and vitamins) - Counties of Bacau, Dolj, and Caras-Severin.

Priority 2

Seeds for the next planting year (e.g., corn, potatoes, wheat and barley) - Counties of Bacau, Suceava, Dolj, Olt, and Caras-Severin.

Priority 3

Animal Feed/Forage (hay and pellets) - Counties of Bacau, Dolj, and Caras-Severin.

5.3 Recommendations for Medium/Long-Term Reconstruction/Rehabilitation Assistance:

Donors are encouraged to further identify, and adequately support, post-emergency assistance projects in the following areas identified:

a) Stabilization measures in areas facing threats of - or undergoing - further landslides

Counties - Olt, Prahova, Caras-Severin, Bacau, and Suceava.

b) Repair/rehabilitation of the river embankment and protective dikes in Berkicesti, Suceava County (failing which the entire water supply for Suceava city is threatened).

c) Repair/rehabilitation of damaged roads.

Counties - Olt, Prahova, Bacau, and Suceava.

d) Rehabilitation of sources for drinking water

Counties - Teleorman, Prahova, and Suceava.

e) Rehabilitation of damaged electricity/gas supply systems

Counties - Olt and Prahova.

f) Geological studies/surveys to assess the likelihood of further landslides

Counties - Caras-Severin, Prahova, Olt, Teleorman, and Bacau.

g) Assistance in the construction of 2 new villages in Parcuvaci municipality - Iasi County.

h) Stabilization/rehabilitation of walls and the protection of wall paintings of monasteries (cultural heritage/national monuments)

Counties - Olt, Suceava, and Iasi.

6. RESPONSE TO DATE - GOVERNMENT

6.1 The Romanian Government's response to flood disasters is coordinated through the Central Commission for Flood Disasters, which, along with 8 other central commissions for different types of disasters, reports to the Governmental Commission for Disasters, headed by the Prime Minister. The Central Commission for Floods, led by the Minister for Water, Forest, and Environmental Protection, is comprised of focal points from all relevant ministries and other governmental bodies. The commission is also represented at the county level (led by Governors) and at the local level (led by mayors), coordinating actions of relevant county/local entities.

6.2 From its disaster reserve funds (20 billion ROL for 1997), the Government has already provided 14.2 billion ROL (USD 2 million) and allocated an additional 7 billion ROL (USD 970,000), for a number of affected counties. Furthermore, 10.9 billion ROL (USD 1.5 million) worth of assistance goods have been provided from the Government's agricultural reserve.

7. RESPONSE TO DATE - INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

7.1 DHA has released an emergency grant of USD 30,000 to be applied to the most immediate needs of the victims.

7.2 Further to situation report no. 3, the following contributions have been reported to DHA:

UNDP - USD 50,000 allocated for the disaster.
Government of Sweden - Contribution of one UNDAC team member
Government of Finland - Contribution of one UNDAC team member

8. CONTRIBUTIONS

8.1 DHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions, to be used during the immediate relief phase, in coordination/consultation with relevant organizations of the United Nations system. DHA provides donors with written confirmation and pertinent details concerning the utilization of the funds contributed.

8.2 Donors wishing to channel their contributions through DHA should transfer funds to DHA account no. CO.590.160.1 at the Swiss Bank Corporation, Case Postale 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, with reference: Romania - Floods (heavy rains/hailstorms/landslides).

8.3 For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform DHA-Geneva, as indicated below, of relief missions/ pledges/contributions and their corresponding values by item.

Telephone number: +41-22-917-1234
In case of emergency only: +41-22-917-2010
Desk Officer: Ms. Kayo Gotoh, direct tel: +41-22-917-1258
Mr. Wolfgang G. Krajic, direct tel: +41-22-917-1109
Press to contact: Ms. M. Moulin-Acevedo, direct tel: +41-22-917-2856
Telex: 41 42 42 dha ch
Fax: +41-22-917-0023
Internet: info@dha.unicc.org

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS