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Moldova

Moldova - Storm, rain and frost OCHA Situation Report No. 1

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2000/0224
OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Moldova - Storm, rain and frost
8 December 2000

General Situation

1. From 26 to 28 November 2000, the northern parts of Moldova were severely hit by a storm with heavy rains and frost. In the worst affected areas, a layer of ice of about 1.5 cm has covered tree branches, telephone and electricity cables.

2. According to a preliminary report issued by the Civil Protection and Emergency Situations Department, the storm damaged hundreds of kilometers of power lines and thousands of pylons. The electricity supply was cut off in the northern counties of Edinets and Soroca, and 60 per cent of the settlements in the counties of Orhei and Balti. In the eastern region of Transnistria, the power supply was interrupted in the districts of Camenca and Rabnita, including the Rabnita metallurgical plant.

3. According to the Civil Protection and Emergency Situations Department, 546 villages were affected. The area includes the counties of Orhei, Soroca, Edinets, Chisinau, Ungheni, and Balti, as well as some of the adjacent parts of Transnistria.

4. The population of the affected areas has no electricity and water supply (since electric water pumps are in use). On 7 December 2000, 356 communities were entirely deprived of electricity out of which 225 lack any means of telephone communication.

5. At this stage (6 December 2000) the total damage is estimated at MDL 255,000,000 (approximately USD 20.8 million).

National Response

6. The Deputy Prime Minister is coordinating the national response through the Civil Protection and Emergency Situations Department. As from Monday 11 December, governmental teams will assess the situation in the four worst-hit regions.

7. In some parts, the authorities have provided the essential water supply, one telephone line in each community, and electric generators. It is estimated that repair work will continue for at least a month, but it is more likely that it will take several months due to the lack of funds.

Requirements for international response

8. The Government of Moldova identified the following priority requirements for international assistance:

- Medicines
- Electric generators, kitchen equipment, lanterns and heaters
- Diesel or kerosene to fuel the latter
- Tools to cut metal (cables)
- Financial support for purchase of relief items

9. According to UNDP Office in Moldova, humanitarian assistance is urgently needed before January 2001.

Bilateral Response

10. UNDP has been informed that the Russian Federation and Belarus have promised to contribute to the repair work. A mission from the Russian Federation is currently in Moldova to assess the situation.

11. The Republic of Moldova is in negotiation with the Russian Federation and Belarus for the supply of food, blankets, cables, poles, cement and armatures.

12. According to the press (Interlic agency), the Romanian Government has pledged three MT of fuel for each of the four most affected counties (Ungheni, Chisinau, Edinet and Belti). 3.7 MT of fuel has already been delivered. Medical supplies which reportedly be granted by Romania.

UN System Response

13. The UNDP field office has issued a Situation Report, and is ready to facilitate custom clearance for humanitarian aid in order to avoid any delay.

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Malin Lunden, Program officer, UNDP Moldova.
Tel.: (+373) 2 22 00 45
Fax. (+373) 2 22 00 41
E-mail: malin.lunden@undp.org

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

15. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

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

Desk Officer: Mr. Dusan Zupka
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1645

Press contact: (in GVA) Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53 - (in N.Y.) Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32

Disclaimer

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