OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Central and Eastern Europe: Floods
2 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. Heavy rains and storms, which started on 22-23 July, have 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. About 40,000 people 
have been evacuated across the three countries, and 42 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 1 August, the number of people killed due to the flooding in 
Ukraine has risen to 34. Over 25,000 people have been evacuated and 3,000 
persons have been rescued. A total of 523 settlements and 9,010 houses are 
still flooded. Meanwhile, evacuation of local inhabitants in Reni, Odessa 
oblast may start on 1 August due to the increasing level of water 
downstream in the Dnestr delta.

4. A total of 24,000 hectares of farmland is still flooded. A significant 
part of the potato, root crops and vegetable harvest in the local farms 
has been 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 in western Ukraine are estimated at 
approximately US$ 650-870 million. Due to the floods, the Putylivskyi 
region of Chernivetska oblast is only partly reachable. As a result, 
potable water and food has to be delivered by helicopters.

6. On 1 August, the Government of Ukraine requested international 
assistance including 200 field kitchens, 1,000 tents and 100 water pumps 
as well as fuel, power generators and several kinds of vehicles, technical 
materials and equipment required for evacuation and reconstruction 
efforts.

Moldova

7. Severe flooding has affected Briceni district, as well as Otaci, 
Ocnita, Soroca, Dubasari, Vadul lui Voda, and Stefan Voda. A total of 
4,251 people have been evacuated from communities along the Prut river, 
with an additional 1,452 people from areas near the Nistru river. Three 
people are reported to have drowned in Chisinau. A total of 836 houses 
have been flooded, including 83 houses that have been destroyed.

8. Severe damage may have been caused to the agricultural sector. As of 1 
August, it is reported that 960 hectares of agricultural land (wheat, 
barley, maize, sunflower, sugar beet, meadows and vegetables land) could 
suffer losses. In the summer of 2007, 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.

9. Five Moldovan border crossing points have been rendered inaccessible, 
along with several national and local roads. An unknown number of bridges 
has been damaged or destroyed as well.

10. 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.

11. The risk of further flooding remains high as water flowing down the 
Prut and Nistru rivers threatens communities downstream of Bender and 
Ungheni. Evacuations are on-going. Southern Moldova may also be threatened 
as there are indications that the water levels on the Danube are 
dangerously high.

12. The total damage is still being assessed by the Government. The 
immediate needs identified so far include drinking water, 
building/construction materials, food packages, clothes, blankets, and 
direct financial support for families whose homes were damaged/destroyed.

13. As of 1 August, the Government of Moldova has not requested 
international assistance.

Romania

14. 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.

15. According to field reports, 145 villages and towns were affected, and 
10,520 persons were evacuated. Five people are reported to have been 
killed. 8,941 houses were damaged, of which 99 collapsed. 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.

16. A total of 26,349 hectares of land were flooded, and 45 dykes were 
destroyed. The floods also affected 1,074.5 km of national and county 
roads, 1,488 bridges and 4 railway stations.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. Some of the relief goods requested by the Government, such as electric 
generators and modular light kit houses, have been covered by EU member 
states through the Community Civil Protection Mechanism.

CONTACTS

OCHA Europe Desk - New York:

Mr. Alf Ivar Blikberg
Tel: +1 917 367 0215
Mobile: +1 917 388 5543
Email: blikberg@un.org

OCHA Europe Desk - Geneva:
Ms. Aoibheann O'Keeffe
Tel. +41 22 917 4329
Mobile: +41 79 444 4918
Email: okeeffe@un.org

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

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

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