Rapid Response Payment Request No. 18/2008

Funds Sent To: Ecumenical Association of Churches in Romania - AIDRom

Amount Sent: US$ 58,725

Date: 5 August 2008

Details of Response

Emergency: Floods in the Northern Romanian provinces

Date of Emergency: 25-27 July 2008

Implementing Member: Ecumenical Association of Churches in Romania - AIDRom

Implementing Partners: The Social Departments of the Northern Romania Orthodox Archbishop Offices of Iasi and of Suceava and Radauti.

DETAILS OF THE EMERGENCY: Between 25-27 July, 2008, torrential rains (80-140 liters/square meter) and storms caused massive flooding and damage over a large region in the Northern Romanian provinces (Maramures, Bukovina, Northern Moldavia), affecting seriously 7 counties (Maramures, Suceava, Botosani, Iasi, Bacau, Neamt, Bistrita-Nasaud), as the main rivers of northern Romania - Siret, Prut, Tisa, Suceava, Moldova - burst their banks. The flooding causcd considerable damage, as follows:

- 174 localities were affected, and 15,834 persons evacuated among whom 6,400 could not yet return to their homes. Five persons died.

- 9,463 village farm households and 4,585 houses were flooded among which 578 were destroyed and 228 badly damaged.

- 40,100 hectares of agricultural lands and 4,510 hectares of grazing grounds are under water.

- 6,299 water wells were contaminated.

- 578 national, county and village roads were destroyed, as well as 1,111 small bridges and 45 km of dams and embankments. It is currently impossible to reach all of the flooded villages.

According to local health authorities there is a risk of water-born disease epidemics from the rotten animal carcasses floating on the waters, the inflow of mosquitoes and the effects of sewage coming from the flooded houses. Water supplies in the affected regions have significantly deteriorated, especially in the rural areas and smaller towns. It is expected for this situation to last at least until the end of the summer/ early fall 2008. Across the region, soldiers, civil defence workers as well as thousands of emergency workers and volunteers have been deployed round the clock, trying to consolidate with sandbags the dikes and dams along the main rivers of Northern Romania. Vaccination has already started on 10,000 individuals (men, women and children) against diarrhea, typhoid fever, tetanus, acute A hepatitis, dysentery and other airborne diseases.

ACTIONS TO DATE, AND EMERGENCY NEEDS:

The Government's Operative Committee for Emergency and Crisis Situation has been distributing drinking water, food and non-food supplies to those evacuated. People from evacuation camps are receiving blankets, mattresses, canned foods, bread, mineral water, sugar, mineral water, oil, flour, raincoats and lamp oil. Army vehicles and helicopters are trying to deliver supplies to the isolated communities. Local and county authorities are working to re-establish road access to all areas in order to make humanitarian aid deliveries possible.

Between 31 July and 2 August, an assessment team from AIDRom Emergency Unit surveyed the most affected counties of Suceava, Botosani and Iasi, in coordination with AIDRom local partners. At the same time, AIDRom has also carried to the affected areas water pumps for well cleaning, power generators, sleeping bags and home dehumidifying equipment to be used by the rural community crisis teams. Needs for food, fresh water, hygiene articles and clothing are overwhelming.

PROPOSED EMERGENCY RESPONSE:

- OBJECTIVE(S) OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE: To alleviate the human suffering of the victims and mitigate the effects of the flood on the small rural communities through distribution of food parcels, mineral water and clothing parcels.

- TARGET POPULATIONS: Targeted counties will be Suceava, Botosani and Iasi. Villages targeted within these counties are Horodnic, Breaza, Câmpulung, Moldovenesc, Putna, Arbore, Straja, Sadova, Gemenea, Stulpicani, Fundu, Moldovei, Bunesti, Trivesti, Hermeziu, and Vladomira. The selection of villages could be modified depending on the coordination with other actors involved in the assistance.

Criteria for selection will be the socio-economic status of the families, the level of damage suffered and vulnerability, nutritional and health status. The targeted groups will include families with children aged from 1 to 14, two-generation families under one roof, handicapped and socially marginalized people (such as members of the Roma community).

In the identification process of the beneficiaries, the Emergency Unit field workers will be closely assisted by the mayors and parish ministers from the affected communities. The regular surveys done by the Emergency Unit Team will represent an important basis for decisions.

- PROPOSED ASSISTANCE: 400 food parcels will be distributed with a standard content of non perishable food, each including: 3kg wheat flour, 2 litres vegetable oil, 2kg Sugar, 3kg Rice, 3kg Corn flour, 1kg Salt, 2kg Pasta, 2kg Milk Powder, 1kg Canned fish, 1kg Canned beef, 1kg Canned pork, 2 kg Canned ready meals, 1kg tomato paste, 1kg margarine, 1kg apricot jam, 2 kg canned beans, 2kg canned peas, 1 kg cheese, 1kg liver pate, 10 packs matches, 10 packs paper handkerchiefs, and 10 litres mineral water. All canned food is divided in 250 gr. portions in order to be used completely after opening. The cheese is a typical Romanian cheese processed for long preservation. The content of the parcels is designed according to the Sphere standards, to meet nutritional requirement for one month. The food parcels and water will be distributed during the month of August.

Clothes will be distributed in September, when the needs will be particularly high due to the cooler season coming earlier in the mountains and children requiring decent clothing for school. Second hand clothes will be purchased in bales and sorted by volunteers, in men, women and children packages.

AIDRom will not distribute hygiene kits as this will be covered by the local government and small local enterprises. Blankets, raincoats and rubber boots will be distributed by other organisations as well.

- IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS: The procurement of the necessary items will be coordinated by the Emergency Unit Field Officer with the assistance of the local church ministers or mayor office representatives. Locating the closest procurement site as well as the cheapest means of transportation will be the duty of the local implementing partners. Packaging of the food and clothes will be carried out by volunteers. The transportation of the parcels will be carried out with hired trucks. In areas of difficult access, the Emergency Unit's 4 WD pick-up vehicle will be used for carrying and distributing the goods.

- COORDINATION: AIDRom will monitor and coordinate the work being done by the implementing partners through regular status reports, and coordination meetings to be held on the implementation sites, to review the progress, harmonize the distribution of relief supplies as well as identify possible further needs. Whenever possible, the AIDRom Emergency Team will attend other meetings and events that are relevant to the humanitarian aid assistance.

- COMMUNICATIONS: Communication will be handled by the AIDRom Emergency Unit.

- PLANNED IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD: two months, up to 5 October 2008. AIDRom Emergency Unit will keep monitoring the situation and might send an appeal proposal at a later stage.

BUDGET: US$ 58,725

(For the detailed budget, kindly visit the ACT site. Thank you.)

ACTION

The ACT Co-ordinating Office has approved the use of US$ 58,725 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful to receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish this payment. Should there be an appeal for this emergency, the RRF payment will be considered as an advance.

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ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.