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Romania: Floods Minor Emergency No. 05ME039 Final Report

Countries
Romania
Sources
IFRC
Publication date

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in 185 countries.
In Brief

Period covered by this Final Report: 7 July 2005 to 28 February, 2006.

History of this Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF)-funded operation:

- CHF 240,938 allocated from the Federations DREF on 7 July, 2005 to respond to the needs of this operation, or to replenish disaster preparedness stocks distributed to the affected population.

- This operation was expected to be implemented in 7 months, and completed by 28 February, 2006. In line with Federation report ing standards, the DREF Bulletin Final Report (narrative and financial) was due 90 days after the end of the operation (by 31 May, 2006).

Summary:

This DREF allocation covered the emergency needs of beneficiaries in the area of Arges, Braila, Bacau, Galati Ialomita, Olt, Prahova, Teleorman Vrancea, Harghita. As beneficiaries faced a harsh winter following the flooding of the spring, summer and early autumn 2005, the relief items distributed contributed to the recovery stage for these beneficiaries. Due to further flooding which hit Romania in spring 2006, there has been a delay in producing this final report.

The International Federation undertakes activities that are aligned with its Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".

Global Agenda Goals:

- Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.

- Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.

- Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.

- Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.

Background and Summary

With the country still recovering from a previous major wave of flooding in the spring 2005, heavy rains caused further flooding and destruction in 15 counties (Arad, Arges, Bistrita-Nasaud, Calarasi, Constanta, Dollj, Giurgiu, Gorj, Hunedoara, Olt, Prahova, Teleorman, Tulcea, Valcea and Vrancea) in Romania during the period 9-15 July, with some 468 localities affected, killing 20 people, and with four persons reported missing, 7,029 evacuated from their homes, and a total of 14,669 households affected. The flooding caused havoc to communication lines and infrastructure: the water supply, electricity, gas and phone networks were brought to a standstill in the flooded regions; access to the areas was problematic with 1,097 bridges and 1,056 km of roads damaged; 13,138 houses damaged, 53,782 hectares of agricultural land flooded, 3,073 animals and birds killed and 141 social institutions affected.

According to the assessment carried out by the Red Cross branches, together with the Romanian members of the International Federation's Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT), the total number of affected people was estimated at 10,000. While official reports received on 6 July showed 1,038 evacuated people, the Romanian Red Cross assessment put the figure closer to the initial estimations of the local RC branches (6,600 people). The assessment was carried out on the basis of guidelines sent from the national headquarters and conducted by the volunteers of the local branches.

Coordination

The Romanian Red Cross (RRC) is the only humanitarian organization, which is included in the national system for protection of the population in case of natural and technological disasters in time of peace and war. The Romanian Red Cross works in close cooperation and interaction with the Ministry of Defence, State Agency for Civil Protection, Ministry of Administration and Interior, governmental institutions, local authorities and other partners in disaster response.

The overall coordination of the RRC operation was undertaken by the RRC Crisis Management Team, which was convened and met regularly to process information from various sources, including from the RRC branches, to assess the situation and to take decisions. As a result:

- RRC delivered immediately emergency aid to affected people from its own disaster reserves;

- RRC launched a Minor Emergency Appeal through the International Federation appeal mechanism;

- The Regional Delegation of the International Federation in Budapest released immediately funds from DREF to continue the operation;

- RRC used several cash and in-kind donations received from partner National Societies;

- RRC opened special bank accounts for floods victims and launched a national appeal to the population.

Regular briefings and press conferences were held to inform the general public and increase the transparency of the operation. Information about the operation was published on the RRC web page.

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

In Romania: Romanian Red Cross: Mihaela Steriu, General Director of National Society of Romanian Red Cross, Telephone: +40 21 317 40 52, Fax: + 40 21 312 84 52, email: dg@crucearosie.ro;

In Budapest: Regional Delegation, Slobodanka Curic, Regional Disaster Management Coordinator; email:slobodanka.curic@ifrc.org, phone: + 387 59 260 383, mobile: + 387 65 665 747

In Geneva: Erja Reinikainen, Regional Officer, Europe Department, Geneva: email: erja.reinikainen@ifrc.org, phone: + 41 22 730 43 19; fax: +41 22 733 03 95

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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