Romania: Floods [DHA-05: 27-Aug-97]
Romania: Floods [DHA-05: 27-Aug-97]
Romania - Floods (heavy rains/hailstorms/landslides)
DHA-Geneva Situation Report No. 5
27 August 1997
UPDATED APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
1. Further to the revised appeal for international assistance reflected in
DHA Situation Report no. 4 dated 22 August, additional information has
been received, through the UNDP/DHA Resident Representative in Bucharest,
from the Romanian Government on assistance requirements in all the 25
counties affected by the disaster.
2. SITUATION -- SUMMARY OF COUNTY REPORTS
2.1 Out of the 25 affected counties, 8 counties were visited by the UNDAC
team, and their assistance needs are reflected in DHA Situation Report no.
4. The remaining 17 counties, listed as follows, also suffered, to a
varying degree, from a combination of heavy rains (causing floods and/or
landslides) and hailstorms. A summary of their situation, as reported by
each county office, can be found below.
2.2 Alba County -- Following the floods in July and early August 1997, the
county office estimates the total losses at ROL 1.5 billion (USD 208,000),
including damage to over 3,000 ha of agricultural land, 93 houses and
farms, roads (national, county, and district), and river embankments.
River beds have remained un-cleared since the December 1995 floods, and
these need to be cleared to prevent damage by future floods. The most
urgent need in this county is to disinfect wells in 12 localities to
provide clean drinking water.
2.3 Arad County -- According to the county report, assistance is needed to
repair damaged houses and buildings (600 m2 of zinc plates, 50 m3 of
timber, 200 m2 of parquet, 50 tons of cement, 10 tons of concrete
iron/rolled steel, and 10 m3 of brick), following the floods in April-July
1997.
2.4 Bihor County -- Affected by heavy rains, the county reports the need
for houses/infrastructure repair (50 m3 of timber, 300 m2 of parquet, 400
tons of cement, and 20 sewage tubes) and emergency food (4 tons each of
powder milk, sugar, and canned meat, and 20,000 bottles of multivitamins).
2.5 Bistrita-Nasaud County -- Having suffered an estimated flood damage of
USD 2.5 million in the winter of 1995-96, the county was hit by hailstorms
in 1997, causing damage, estimated by the county at USD 3 million, to
crops and to 140 farms (in the communes of Sieu, Sieut, Teaca, Nariaelu,
and Cetate). The county requests the provision of emergency food (2 tons
each of flour, sugar, and rice, and 2,000 litres of salad oil) and
construction materials (200 tons of cement, and 300 m2 of parquet).
2.6 Botosani County - Heavy rains and hailstorms in May-August 1997 caused
damage estimated at ROL 3.6 billion (USD 500,000) in the county's 5 most
seriously affected villages, including 3,500 ha of agricultural land, 292
county roads, 9 bridges, houses, and public buildings. Priority needs are
reported to be in the areas of agriculture and infrastructure.
2.7 Braila County -- Due to heavy rains on 7-30 July 1997, 270 buildings
were destroyed in Braila city, and telecommunications facilities and
41,807 ha of agricultural land were damaged. The crop damage is estimated
at ROL 80 billion (USD 11 million). The total losses are estimated by the
county at ROL 81 billion (USD 11.3 million).
2.8 Buzau County -- Floods and landslides in the past few months destroyed
river embankments, farms, and public buildings, causing losses reported to
amount to ROL 24 billion (USD 3.3 million).
2.9 Dimbovita County - Heavy rains in early August are reported to have
caused a total damage of ROL 59 billion (USD 8.2 million), including 2,445
houses, 4 public buildings, 5,790 ha of agricultural land, and damaged
infrastructure (water supply network, roads, bridges, and hydrotechnical
works).
2.10 Galati -- Assistance is requested for the rehabilitation of
infrastructure (roads, public buildings, houses, and heating networks) and
the stabilization of sliding land at the Brates Lake bank and the Danube
waterfront. The county requests the provision of construction materials
(15,000 m3 of zinc sheets, 25 m3 of timber, 100 tons each of cement and
concrete steel, and 150,000 pieces of bricks).
2.11 Hunedoara County -- Floods on 15-24 April and 20 July-7 August 1997
caused damage totalling ROL 39.5 billion (USD 5.5 million), affecting
mainly infrastructure.
2.12 Maramures County -- The report indicates that the county suffered in
the past years from various natural disasters, including floods, storms,
landslides, hail, and fire, pointing out the need (existing in many other
counties also) for a strengthened disaster response capacity.
2.13 Mures County -- As a result of the floods on 27-28 July 1997, damage
was caused to commune roads, water supply networks, and houses of farming
families, and assistance requested includes the reconstruction of roads,
estimated at ROL 2.6 billion (USD 360,000). The provision of construction
materials (cement, tiles, and bricks) is also requested.
2.14 Sibiu County -- Heavy rains and resulting floods in June-August 1997
damaged some 180 houses, 25 public buildings, and 5,400 ha of agricultural
land. Estimated damage amounts to ROL 12.5 billion (USD 1.7 million).
Control, filtration, and disinfection of drinking water are listed as a
priority need.
2.15 Timis County -- Heavy rains, floods, and hailstorms damaged 23 km of
communal roads, one footbridge, houses (roofs), and 2,014 ha of
agricultural crops. The provision of emergency food (2 tons each of
powdered milk, flour, sugar, and canned meat, and 20,000 bottles of
multivitamins) is requested.
2.16 Tulcea County -- Heavy rains and hailstorms damaged 543 houses,
78,400 ha of agricultural land, and county roads. Most needed are
construction materials to repair houses (90 tons of cement, 102 m3 of
timber, 3,320 m2 of asphaltite cardboard, 660 pieces of bricks, 4,500 kg
of lime, 5,260 kg of tin plates, 32,150 pieces of tiles, 515 tons of
rocks, 425 tons of gravel, and 300 kg of bitumen), and assistance in
agricultural rehabilitation.
2.17 Vaslui County -- Damage is reported to the water supply system,
crops, houses, and roads. The provision of emergency food (3 tons of milk
powder, 4 tons of flour, 3 tons of sugar, and 2 tons of canned meat) and
construction materials (5,000 m2 of zinc sheets, 70 m3 of timber, 380 tons
of concrete, 50 tons of iron rods and laminated iron, and 40 pieces of
sewage tubes).
2.18 Vrancea County - Further to the ROL 4 billion (USD 550,000) damage in
1996, the county reports to have suffered losses in 1997 (18 May and 7
August), amounting to ROL 35.4 billion (USD 5 million), indicating the
need for flood prevention measures (e.g., rehabilitation of dikes and
regulation of rivers). Also requested is the provision of emergency food
(2 tons each of powdered milk, flour, and sugar, 2,000 pieces of canned
meat, 2,000 bottles of multivitamins, and 1,000 bottles of mineral water)
3. ASSISTANCE NEEDS
3.1 Overview -- In general, similar to the situations in the 8 counties
visited by the UNDAC team (see sitrep no. 4), the emergency phase of the
disaster in June-August 1997 seems to have passed, also in the
above-mentioned 17 counties, where a majority of assistance requirements
reported by county officials are to be best addressed in the framework of
reconstruction and rehabilitation (of, especially, infrastructure) and of
disaster prevention and support to disaster response and management
capacities (in the form of equipment in the areas of rescue, health/first
aid, water supply/pollution control, environmental protection, and
communications). Several counties had suffered natural disasters in the
past years, damage (mostly on infrastructure and preventive facilities)
caused by which remained unrepaired, leaving local capacities for
mitigating the effects of the recent disasters, at a weakened level
3.2 Immediate Assistance Needs:
Further to Situation Report No. 4, donors are strongly encouraged to
provide assistance to meet the following priority relief needs, also to
the remaining 17 counties. (For interested donors, detailed lists of
requested relief items are available from DHA.)
a) Shelter/Housing -- Construction materials for emergency repairing of
damaged houses/buildings, for the counties of Arad, Bistrita-Nasaud,
Bihor, Galati, Mures, Tulcea, Vaslui.
b) Food/Agriculture -- Food for the counties of Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud,
Timis, Vaslui, and Vrancea.
3.3 Recommendations for Post-Emergency Medium/Long-Term Assistance:
Donors are encouraged to further identify, and adequately support,
post-emergency assistance projects for the following areas of
reconstruction/rehabilitation and disaster prevention/capacity building.
(For interested donors, detailed lists of requested materials and
equipment are available from DHA.)
a) Rehabilitation/Strengthening of Prevention Facilities/Measures:
- Stabilization measures in areas facing threats of landslides (Galati
County).
- Repair of the river embankment/banks, regularization of rivers, and
clearing of river banks (Counties of Alba, Buzau, Hunedoara, and
Vrancea)
b) Repair/Rehabilitation of Damaged Infrastructure:
- Roads (Counties of Alba, Bihor, Botosani, Mures, and Vaslui)
- Sources of drinking water (Counties of Alba and Sibiu)
- Heating supply systems (Galati County)
c) Rehabilitation of Agriculture (Counties of Botosani, Braila, Sibiu, and
Tulcea)
d) Strengthening of Local Disaster Response Capacities (all 17 counties).
4. CONTRIBUTIONS
4.1 In addition to the contributions reported in DHA Situation Reports no.
3 and 4, the Norwegian Government is contributing, through DHA, USD 20,000
to cover emergency needs.
4.2 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.
4.3 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).
4.4 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
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