ReliefWeb

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In Brief

THE BELARUS, MOLDOVA, UKRAINIAN AND RUSSIAN RED CROSS HAVE BEEN GRANTED CHF 200,000 (USD 155,270 OR EUR 128,690) FROM THE FEDERATION'S DISASTER RELIEF EMERGENCY FUND (DREF) TO ASSIST ABOUT 14,000 BENEFIACIARIES DURING TWO MONTHS.

UNEARMARKED FUNDS TO REPAY DREF ARE ENCOURAGED.

The Situation

Following the arrival of the cold front of Arctic anticyclone in the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus (between 13 and 18 January), the regional temperature plummeted to an average of between -25 and -38 degrees (in Siberia the temperatures even reached -52 degrees).

This is the longest coldest period for Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Moldova (BRUM countries) for the past 20 years. The Moldovan population does not remember such severe low temperatures for 70 years. Temperatures were lower on between 15-20o C in comparison with many years' average data. These extreme temperatures were registered in almost all territories of Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. Although presently the temperatures improved, the weather forecast predicts further cold waves starting from 4-5 February (even in some places in Russia, the temperatures are expected to reduce to -60o C ).

The most affected regions, with a total population of 74,696,800 people, are the following:

- Belarus (4,500,000 people): 7 regions, including Minsk (47% of the total territory)

- Russia (43,016,800 people): 28 regions, including Moscow (30% of the total territory)

- Ukraine (26,734,000 people): 13 oblasts, and Kiev (50% of all oblasts of Ukraine)

- Moldova (446,000 people): 5 districts, including Chisinau (about 20% of the total territory)

As a result of low temperatures, adhesion of snow to the power lines and their tearing caused power supply cuts in 150 inhabited localities of Belarus, 15 in Moldova, 435 in Russia and 329 in Ukraine. Over 100,000 people (about 50% of them in Ukraine) in these territories were directly affected by severe frosts, caused by hot-water pipe and electricity systems breakdowns, heating interruptions as well as homeless' and street children's exposure to the cold. The news agencies reported that a total of 116 people have died from cold in Moscow, 589 people in Ukraine, 13 people in Moldova and 5 people in Belarus. 2045 children in Ukraine and about 200 hundred people in Russia were evacuated from their home and moved to shelter accommodation. Hospitals in the region rendered support to about 20,000 frostbitten citizens (e.g. 1820 people in Belarus, 6705 people in Ukraine) and all the patients were provided with necessary assistance.

Low temperatures were also the reason for increase of fires and road accidents. In all regions, the temperature fell lower than -20o and -30o C, and schools and kindergartens have been closed for 5- 10 days.

Local authority and state initiatives Local authorities put their main efforts into the reinforcement of electricity and heating supplies. More than 2,000 special technical teams and 600 special technical equipments daily were engaged in restoring works of hot-water pipe, electricity and heating systems in Russia. In addition, over 270 technical units and about 800 persons were mobilised in Moldova. All urban services were placed on alert before the temperature plunged and in most of the parts of the countries, the situation was under control. According to the officials, during the emergency situation, special round-the-clock headquarters had been formed in big cities of affected areas in Russia (Moscow, Kaliningrad), Moldova (Chisinau) and Ukraine (Kiev, Lvov, Kirovograd, Lugansk).

Red Cross and Red Crescent action

CHF 200,000 has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to respond to the immediate needs of about 14,000 beneficiaries, such as warm clothes, footwear, blankets, food, soap, and shelters for homeless. Branches of the National Societies have been in daily contact with the relevant authorities as well as the Emergency Centres to monitor the situation and to develop their response mechanisms.

As the principal emergency response agencies operating in the field , the National Societies maintain close contacts with the Ministries/Department for Emergencies, Ministries/Departments for Social Protection of Population, Health Ministries, Education Ministries, local administrations and media.

Immediate Response

Over the past 9 days , 12 branches of the Red Cross Societies in Russia , Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus provided, from their own resources, humanitarian assistance to people in shelters and hospitals and supported lonely elderly people and street children. The assistance included blankets, clothing, winter footwear, hygiene parcels as well as food. In addition, first aid was provided to over 200 people by Red Cross staff in Russia and Ukraine. The National Societies also announced collection of warm clothes in order to replenish their stocks.

Since the very beginning of emergency situation, the all four National Societie s of the region have been involved in the relief operation. By 1st of February 2006, the National Societies have distributed the following relief items:

These items were distributed among 3,051 affected people in Kaliningrad city, Bashkortostan, Krasnodar, Moscow, Tver (Russia), Lvov, Lugansk, Kiev, Kharkov, Kirovogradskaya oblasts (Ukraine), Vitebsk oblast (Belarus), and Dondushen district (Moldova). Thus, support was provided to the most affected and vulnerable groups, such as lonely elderly people aged over 60 (2,288 people); multi-child families (289 people/70 families); homeless (414 people); and street children (60 people).

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

- Belarus Red Cross, Vasily Zharko, Active Secretary General, email: belarus.redcross@tut.by,phone: +375 17 227 14 17; Alexander Hursa, Disaster Management Coordinator, email: belarus.redcross@tut.by, phone: +375 17 212 62 20

- Moldova Red Cross, Larisa Byrka, President, email: moldredcross@mtc.md, phone: +373 22 72 96 44; Vasile Chernenky, Disaster Management Coordinator, email: redcross@mtc.md,, phone: +373 22 72 58 24

- Ukrainian Red Cross, Ivan Usichenko, President, email: internatio nal@redcross.org.ua, phone: +380 235 01 57; Alla Khabarova, Executive Director, email: international@redcross.org.ua,, phone: +380 44 235 0334

- Russian Red Cross, Tatyana Nikolaenko, Chair person, email: redcross@redcross.ru, phone: +007 495 126 85 90; Yuri Kanash, Disaster Management Coordinator, email:kanash@redcross.ru,, phone: +007 495 126 05 84

- Delegation for Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine: Miro Modrusan, Acting Head of Delegation; Phone 41 22 730 43 24;Fax 41 22 733 03 95; email:Miro.Modrusan@ifrc.org; Valentina Sosnovaya, Disaster Management Officer, email: valentina.sosnovaya@ifrc.org,, phone: +375 17 221 7237

- Delegation for Russia, Alexander Matheou, Head of Delegation; Phone + 007 495 126 15 66; email:alexander.matheou@ifrc.org

- Federation Secretariat: Miro Modrusan, Regional Desk Officer; Phone 41 22 730 43 24;Fax 41 22 733 03 95; email: Miro.Modrusan@ifrc.org

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.

For longer-term programmes in this or other countries or regions, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for national society profiles, please also access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org

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