OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Central and Eastern Europe: Floods
1 August 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report is based on information received from UN agencies, 
international organizations and national authorities.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

1. Starting 23 July 2008, heavy rains and storms in the Carpathian 
Mountains led to flooding in parts of Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia 
and Hungary. Areas of Ukraine, Moldova and Romania located near the rivers 
of Prut and Dnestr are reported to be the most seriously affected. A total 
of over 35,000 people have been evacuated across the three countries, and 
36 people are reported killed.

Ukraine

2. Rising waters in the rivers of Dnestr and Prut have affected 6 oblasts 
(Lviv, Zakarpattya, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Vinnytsia) in 
the western part of the country (there are a total of 24 oblasts in 
Ukraine).

3. As of 31 July, the number of people killed due to the flooding in 
Ukraine has risen to 30. Over 3,000 persons have been rescued and 25,000 
evacuated. A total of 50 settlements are still without electricity, and 
40,703 houses and 619 settlements are still flooded. Meanwhile, evacuation 
of local inhabitants in Reni, Odessa oblast may start on 1 August due to 
the increasing level of water in Dnestr delta.

4. A total of 28,326 hectares of farmlands are still flooded. A 
significant part of the potato, root crops and vegetable harvest in the 
local farms are damaged. The supply of fruit has significantly decreased 
in wholesale markets as harvesting has stopped in many farms.

5. Around 360 bridges, 561 footbridges, and 680 km of roads have been 
damaged. The total losses are estimated at approximately US$ 650-870 
million. Due to the floods, he Putylivskyi region of Chernivetska oblast 
is only partly reachable, and potable water and food has to be delivered 
by helicopters.

Moldova

6. On 26-27 July, severe floods affected Briceni district, as well as 
Otaci, Ocnita, Soroca, Dubasari, Vadul lui Voda, and Stefan Voda. 
Information on the impact is still very limited, but so far no casualties 
have been registered in Moldova as a direct result of the floods. Initial 
reports indicate that hundreds of families were evacuated. Dozens of 
houses are reported to have been completely destroyed. Some national roads 
and bridges were damaged or destroyed as well.

7. Severe damage may have been caused to the agricultural sector. It is 
reported that thousand hectares of agricultural land (wheat, barley, 
maize, sunflower, sugar beet, meadows and vegetables land) could suffer 
losses. Last summer, Moldova faced severe hardship due to an unprecedented 
drought that affected almost the whole country. According to international 
assessments, the drought had a catastrophic impact on ecology, food 
production and agriculture, from which the population has not yet 
recovered.

8. The water level in the Prut and Nistru rivers has kept rising and there 
remains a risk of extensive flooding. According to Government and Chisinau 
Municipality sources, there is a danger that the water supply station in 
Vadul lui Voda, which ensures water supply for the capital city of 
Chisinau, could be affected by the floods. There are also concerns about 
the structural reliability of the Dubassari dam, given the rising level of 
water in the accumulation lake.

9. Some 27 settlements in the districts Riscani, Glodeni, Falesti and 
Ungheni are in danger of being further flooded, due to the increased flow 
of water from the accumulation lake of Costesti-Stinca (Botosani, 
Romania), hence the evacuation of the population, which has already began.

10. The total damage is still being assessed by the Government, and a 
National Commission has been established for this purpose. The immediate 
needs identified include drinking water, building/construction materials, 
food packages, clothes, blankets, and direct financial support for 
families whose homes were damaged/destroyed.

11. As of 31 July, the Government of Moldova has not requested 
international assistance.

Romania

12. Torrential rains and increased water levels have caused severe damage 
in the regions of Moldavia and Bucovina. The floods are reported to be the 
worst to hit the area for 40 years. The most affected counties are Iasi, 
Suceava, Botosani, Maramures, Neamt and Bacau.

13. According to field reports, 10,520 persons have been evacuated, 145 
villages and towns were affected, 26,349 hectares of land were flooded, 
and 45 dykes were destroyed; 8,941 houses were damaged, of which 99 
collapsed. The floods also affected 1,074.5 km of national and county 
roads, 1,488 bridges and 4 railway stations. As of 31 July, most of the 
evacuated persons from Neamt county had returned to their homes, while 
most of the persons evacuated from Iasi county were still unable to 
return.

14. The dam from Stanca-Costesti on Prut River is considered to be a 
threat for the 15,000 people living in the 13 localities downstream. 
Therefore, the water is being released at 845m3/s, under the authorities' 
control. Though water at Stanca-Costesti dam is released controllably, 
experts consider the dam is a threat for people living downstream.

15. Except for the Prut river area, where the situation is expected to 
worsen, authorities are proceeding to the recovery phase, by cleaning the 
roads and buildings and pumping the water from lower terrains. Due to 
disconnection of power lines and lack of electric generators, many 
hospitals, shelters, dispensaries, and police posts do not have access to 
electricity.

16. The authorities are requesting international assistance in the form of 
material goods, such as electric generators and modular light kit houses.

CONTACTS

OCHA Europe Desk - New York:
Mr. Alf Ivar Blikberg
Tel: +1 917 367 0215
Email: blikberg@un.org

OCHA Press Contact in NY:
Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Tel: +1 917 476 6164
Email: bunker@un.org

OCHA Europe Desk - Geneva:
Ms. Aoibheann O'Keeffe
Tel. +41 22 917 4329
Email: okeeffe@un.org

OCHA Press Contact in Geneva:
Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel: +41 22 917 26 53
Email: byrs@un.org

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