Republic of Moldova
Post Disaster Needs Assessment
Floods 2010
A report prepared by the Government of the Republic of Moldova with Support
from The European Union, the United Nations, and the World Bank
i
Foreword
FORTHCOMING
ii
Acknowledgements
FORTHCOMING
iii
Table of Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Executive Summary
Section I.
The Disaster
1.1
The 2010 Flood
1.2
The Immediate Response
1.3
Request for Assistance and International Response
1.4
Social and Economic Background of the Affected Areas
Section II.
Estimate of Damage, Losses, Needs and Human Development Impact
2.1
Methodology
2.2.
Summary of Damage, Losses, and Needs
2.3
Sector Impacts: Infrastructure Sectors
2.4
Sector Impacts: Productive Sectors
2.5
Sector Impacts: Social Sectors
2.6
Cross-cutting Issues
Section III. Economic and Social Impact
3.1
Macroeconomic Impact
3.2
Impact on Livelihoods and Incomes
Section IV. Recovery and Reconstruction Requirements
4.1
Recovery and Reconstruction Framework
4.2
Recovery and Reconstruction Program
4.3
The Way Forward
Section V.
Reducing Risks
5.1
Situation during the Disaster
5.2
Institutional Framework for Disaster Risk Management
5.3
Needs for Disaster Risk Management
Annexes
iv
List of Tables
FORTHCOMING
v
List of Figures
FORTHCOMING
vi
List of Abbreviations
FORTHCOMING
vii
Executive Summary
A. The Disaster
A breach of a dam on the night of 5-6 July 2010 caused extensive flooding into the Prut
river valley forcing the evacuation of more than 2,300 people and damaging over 1,110
homes. In the second half of June 2010, heavy rainfall in northern Moldova, as well as in the
Carpathian Mountains (in Romania and Ukraine) where the Prut and Nistru rivers have their
sources, resulted in peak flood levels for the Prut river, putting extreme water pressure on the
dam (which was poorly maintained) that protects Moldovan valley downstream.
The damaged dam near the Prut River in the northern part of the flooded area (near
Nemteni) is now under water, and also located in an area of difficult access, within the
flooded area. Any necessary structural engineering to repair and seal the dam’s water leakage,
has been very slow to date, since the access road is still being built. Another protective dam is
located close to the border crossing between Romania and the Republic of Moldova (LeuseniAlbita Bridge). The dam at the southern edge has an accumulation canal to control high flood
waters from the nearby Prut River. On July 15, this dam had to be artificially breached to allow a
discharge of water from the inundation zone, back into the Prut River. The situation is serious
since the northern dam has not been repaired and the Prut River is leaking water into the
inundation zone. The southern side of the Prut River is allowing flood water out.
The overall situation has improved very slowly, because the outflow is too limited (some 75
m3/s). According to the water national authority (Apele Moldovei), increased water levels were
observed also in the Nistru River, leading to dam fortification in Stefan-Voda and Anenii Noi.
Downstream in the southern region of the flooded zone, preliminary assessments of the safety of
the dams have been done—between Leova and the discharge point of the Prut river into the
Danube—the situation was assessed as not critical. However, on July 19-20, an additional 70
houses and 2,500 hectares of agricultural land in Stoianovca and Ghioltosu (Cantemir District)
were at risk to be flooded, after a new dam broke and started to leak near the village of Goteşti.
A Special Committee to deal with the emergency situation, chaired by the Minister of State,
Victor Bodiu, was established. In order to more effectively coordinate the response, the
Committee was based in the flooded areas, weeks after the floods started. In the aftermath of the
floods, the Government staged a commendable relief effort, involving about 2,500 staff from the
Ministry of Interior, Civil Protection and Emergency Situation Service, civilians, volunteers,
National Army, the Border Guards Service, local Public Administration, as well as foreign
experts.
According to the first report of the Commission for mitigating the consequences of the floods, as
of July 20, the total damage and losses is: 4100 hectares of crops; 9 hectares of orchids; 4108
hectares of pasture; 85 communities from 16 districts were flooded; approximate 3,000 people
were evacuated, with about 850 houses flooded and an additional 900 at risk of being flooded; 17
viii
bridges, 200 wells, 182 km of roads, 7 dams, educational and administrative buildings, all
destroyed.
The Government of Moldova, requested development partners to undertake a Post-Disaster
Needs Assessment (PDNA) jointly with the Government. In response, development partners
organized a team of local and international experts to initiate the PDNA process for the flooded
areas.
B. Economic and Social Impacts
The floods caused damages and losses, equivalent to about 0.15 percent of GDP. The floods
affected primarily rural and agricultural regions of the country, that account approximately 0.15
percent of GDP. The structure of damage among sectors of economic activity in the affected
areas is also of special relevance since the infrastructure sustained 67 percent and the productive
sectors sustained 26 percent the total damages. The structure of losses is also concentrated
heavily in the infrastructure (70 percent) and productive (24 percent) sectors. Apart from the
typical effects concentrated on infrastructure, the productive sector has also been seriously hit.
While damages and losses in the social and cross-cutting sectors are not large in financial terms
the human dimension of this disaster remains as vital as is seen in the case of other natural
disasters. This means lost incomes for the affected population, together with property, makes the
population especially vulnerable and in need.
Estimates show that the value of destruction of assets (damage) is 231.96 million MDL, and that
the reduction in flows of the economy (losses), arising from the flooding, amounts to a further
595.86 million MDL1.
When breaking down the effects of the floods by individual sectors of economic activity, the
damages are concentrated heavily in sectors such as housing (84.0 million, or 36 percent of the
total), transport (61.8 million, or 27 percent), and agriculture (56.13 million, or 24 percent).
Damage, Losses, and Needs Assessment
This Post-Disaster Needs Assessment analysis covers damages, losses, and economic and
social impacts. Damage (direct impact) refers to the impact on assets, stock (including final
goods, raw materials), and property. Losses (indirect impact) refer to flows that will be affected,
such as production declines, reduced incomes, and increased expenditures, over a time period
until the economy and assets are recovered. Economic and social impacts include
macroeconomic impacts, poverty impacts, employment and livelihoods impacts, and social
impacts.
The PDNA estimated that damage and losses from the floods amount to a total of 827.81
MDL (US$64.57 million) (Table 1). While the damage to assets occurred at the time of the
floods, the associated changes in economic flows will last beyond the present calendar year. In
6 A uniform exchange rate of 12.82 Moldovan Lei per US Dollar has been used throughout the assessment, as the
average rate of exchange for 2010 until August 10, 2010.
ix
some sectors and cases, the effects may be felt in 2011 depending on the speed and efficiency of
the post-disaster recovery and reconstruction activities.
Table 1: Summary of Disaster Effects and Needs by Sector (in MDL million)
(in millions of Lei)
Sector/Sub-Sector
Damage
Losses
Total
Infrastructure
Embankments/Flood Control
0.04
0.04
Energy
6.56
6.56
Housing
84.00
304.60
388.60
Roads
25.65
87.91
113.56
Railways
36.15
9.90
46.05
Water and Sanitation
2.00
16.70
18.70
Productive
Agriculture
56.13
139.67
195.80
Livelihoods
3.10
4.05
7.15
Social
Education
18.94
18.94
Health
0.95
2.86
3.82
Social Protection
Cross-cutting
Environment
17.37
11.22
28.59
Disaster Risk Management
TOTAL (in MDL)
231.96
595.86
827.81
TOTAL (in USD)
18.09
46.48
64.57
Note: Currency conversion rate: MDL 12.82 = USD 1 (average for 2010)
Short-term
Needs
Mediumterm
Needs
Total
12.49
6.56
219.00
18.22
6.74
157.90
156.50
10.22
35.91
12.00
170.38
6.56
375.50
28.44
35.91
18.74
58.50
8.93
87.10
16.50
145.60
25.43
26.32
21.98
11.31
12.60
8.66
2.67
38.92
30.64
13.98
0.20
3.38
393.62
30.70
15.49
52.48
568.03
44.31
15.69
55.87
961.65
75.01
The assessment of damage and losses provides a basis for determining recovery and
reconstruction needs. The assessment of damage provides a basis for estimating reconstruction
requirements, while the estimation of losses provides an indication of the recovery needs to
address the reduction or decline in economic activity and in personal and household income. The
two estimates are then combined to establish overall needs to achieve full recovery of economic
activities at the macroeconomic level and at the individual or household level.
A total of 393.62 million lei (US$30.70 million) is required to meet short term recovery
needs (until December 31, 2010), and a total of 568.03 million lei (US$44.31 million) is
required for the medium term (until June 2012) recovery and reconstruction efforts (Table
2). Larger investments, particularly in disaster risk management, may need to be considered in
the longer term. The exact public sector need depends on the choices the government makes on
the specific programs to implement, the timing and pacing of those programs, and the
effectiveness with which these programs are implemented. Financing can come from a variety of
sources, including the national budget, local government budgets, private sector contributions,
and grants and concessional loans from development partners.
x
The needs for financing may be large, but the cost of doing nothing would be larger. The
PDNA estimates the total cost of recovery and reconstruction at 961.65 million lei (US$75.01
million). Given the limited capacity of the flood and disaster management system in Moldova,
and the increased frequency and intensity of floods, such costs can be expected to recur more
frequently, unless urgent efforts are made to mitigate the effects of future disasters.
C. Recovery and Reconstruction Strategy
Building back better is necessary, but it is not enough. While Cotul Morii’s flooding could
not have necessarily been prevented given the deterioration of the country’s flood control
system, its extensive impact could have been prevented. Preventing such impacts in the future
requires attention to the governance of Moldovan development in areas like land use planning,
housing, water management, environmental protection, and disaster risk mitigation.
In implementing recovery and reconstruction, and looking beyond the recent flooding to
the future, five areas stand out as meriting particular attention:
D. Guiding Principles for Recovery and Reconstruction
A set of guiding principles will govern implementation of the recovery and reconstruction
program. The purposed of these principles is to enhance the effectiveness of recovery and
reconstruction efforts, increase transparency and accountability, and ensure that resources are
translated into results on the ground.
A transparent, accountable, and results-based recovery and reconstruction program

Comprehensive and straightforward systems for monitoring activities, tracking funds, and
evaluating projects and programs will be implemented by all stakeholders (including the
provision of regular and transparent reporting against all funding sources).

Results and progress will be tracked and reported to the public and development partners
through regular meetings, the media, and a dedicated recovery and reconstruction
website.

All agencies involved in the recovery and reconstruction program will undertake
appropriate audits of their activities and funds.

Independent complaints handling mechanisms should be integrated into major projects to
enable greater accountability.
Community-based, people-centered, and equitable approaches

Community-based, participatory approaches that engage local communities in decisionmaking, implementation, and monitoring of activities will be adopted to increase the
quality and speed of reconstruction, aligning projects with real needs, and lowering the
risk of misuse of funds.
xi

Projects should maximize the use of local initiative, resources, and capacities. Planning
and execution will be based on local knowledge, skills, materials, and methods, taking
into account the need for affordable solutions.

Although disasters increase the vulnerability of all, groups who are already disadvantages
may need special assistance and protection. Particular priority will be given to poor,
marginalized female-headed households, children (including orphans), elderly, and
people with disabilities.

The capacity of local communities will be built at every stage of the recovery and
reconstruction effort, with a focus on reducing vulnerability to future disasters.
Reduction of future risks
 With floods becoming a regular risk in Moldova, integrated disaster risk management
plans that take into consideration all likely significant hazards are needed to reduce the
impact of future disasters.
xii
xiii
Section I. The Disaster
The 2010 Floods
The Republic of Moldova is prone to different kinds of natural hazards, including drought,
floods, severe weather, earthquakes, and landslides. On average, northern Moldova experiences
a drought once every 10 years, central Moldova once every five to six years, and southern
Moldova once every three to four years.2 Average annual losses between 1996 and 2004 were
around $19 million per year.3 Abnormally high temperatures and low rainfall over a three-year
period resulted in a severe drought in 2007, which crippled Moldova’s agricultural sector,
resulting in $1.2 billion in losses.4 The effects of poor nutrition were exacerbated by reduced
access to potable water, particularly in rural areas where 45% of the population relies on wells as
their main source of drinking water. Heavy rains result in frequent floods (an average of 1.2 per
year, 1992-2005), to which 40% of the settled areas in the country are exposed. Floods result in
average annual damages of around five million dollars.5 In 2008 the country experienced severe
torrential rains, which together with releases from upstream in Ukraine, led to flooding in both
the northern and southern areas of the country. Moldova incurred $120 million in losses from
this event.6
In the second half of June 2010, heavy rain falls in northern Moldova, as well as the Carpathians
(in Romania and Ukraine) where the Prut
and Nistru rivers have their sources,
resulted in peak flood level of the Prut river
which put an extreme water pressure in the
dam (which was poorly maintained),
protecting
the
Moldovan
valley
downstream. The breach of the dam on the
night of 5-6 July, caused an extensive flood
into the valley forcing the evacuation of
more than 3,000 persons.
The damaged dam near the Prut River in
the northern part of the flooded area (near
Nemteni) is under water, and also located in an area of difficult access, within the flooded area.
Any necessary structural engineering to repair and seal the dam’s water leakage, has been very
slow to date, since the access road is still being built. Another protective dam is located, close to
the border crossing between Romania and the Republic of Moldova (Leuseni-Albita Bridge).
2
Drought has become more frequent and intense during the last two decades, appearing nine times (1990, 1992,
1994, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007), leading to significant crop losses. In 1990, 1992, 2003, and 2007 drought was
observed during the entire vegetative season. In the remaining years drought struck during summertime.
3
Societatea de Cruce Rosie a Moldovei and Departamentul Situatsii Exceptionale al Respublicii Moldova, 2005,
Opredelenie uviazimosti districtsov i naselennykh punktov Respublki Moldova k chrezvychainym situatsiiam
prirodnogo i tekhnogennogo kharaktera.
4
National Hydrometeorological Service and Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry.
5
World Bank, 2007, Rural Productivity in Moldova – Managing Natural Vulnerability.
6
Official estimates.
1
The dam at the southern edge has an accumulation canal to control high flood waters from
nearby Prut River. This dam had to be breached artificially to allow a discharge (around July 15)
of water from the inundation zone, back into the Prut River. The situation is serious since the
northern dam has not been repaired and the Prut River is leaking water in the inundation zone.
The southern side of the Prut River is allowing flood water out.
The overall situation has improved very slowly, because the outflow is too limited (some 75
m3/s). According to the water national authority (Apele Moldovei), increases of the water level
was observed also in the Nistru River, thus the dams were fortified in Stefan-Voda and Anenii
Noi. Downstream in the southern region of the flooded zone, preliminary assessments of the
safety of the dams have been done, between Leova and the discharge point of the river Prut into
the Danube, the situation was assessed as not critical. However, on July 19-20 additional 70
houses and 2,500 hectares of agricultural land in Stoianovca and Ghioltosu, (Cantemir District)
are at risk to be flooded, after a new dam broke off and start to leak near the village of Goteşti.
According to the first report of the recently created Commission for mitigating the consequences
of the floods, as of July 20, the total damage and losses is as follows: 4100 hectares of crops; 9
hectares of orchids; 4108 hectares of pasture; 85 communities from 16 districts were flooded;
approximate 3,000 people were evacuated, with about 850 houses flooded and an additional 900
at risk of being flooded; 17 bridges, 200 wells, 182 km of roads, 7 dams, educational and
administrative buildings, all destroyed.
Immediate Response
National response had to be prompt and the Government took immediate measures to minimize
the consequences of floods from own resources. A Special Committee to deal with the
emergency situation, chaired by the Minister of State, Victor Bodiu, was established. In order to
more effectively coordinate the response, the Committee was based in the flooded areas, weeks
after the floods started.
For evacuation of people, prevention and delivery of the urgent assistance, all available forces
were involved - about 2,500 staff from the Ministry of Interior, Civil Protection and Emergency
Situation Service, Civilians and Volunteers, National Army, Border Guards Service, local Public
Administration, as well as foreign experts.
Parallel efforts have been undertaken since day 1 in order to mobilize the maximum resources
possible. One of the first actions undertaken by the Government, was an address to the
international and donor community by Prime Minister Vladimir Filat, in order to secure
sufficient resources for the immediate response, as well as for the rehabilitation of the flooded
areas, and the elimination of flood consequences. A special account was opened for collecting
monetary donations (25 mln MDL/roughy 2 mln USD have been collected so far), private
undertakings have been encouraged.
The Government has started planning for building 700 houses from the flooded areas, the site for
a new village in a risk-free area having already been identified, site preparatory works carried
out. In order to ensure the assessment of the losses and to coordinate the mitigations activities, on
2
14 July the Government created a special National Commission, chaired by the Prime-Minister.
It is composed of most of the Ministers, relevant agencies and representatives of the local and
central public administration, and will be responsible for:
 conducting (together with development partners) an assessment of the damages and establish
key measures to mitigate the consequences of the floods (including identification of the
required resources),
 coordinating the implementation of the mitigation activities and monitoring the use of the
materials and financial resources allocated for this purpose, and
 ensuring the transparent distribution of the humanitarian assistance and financial donations
for the persons affected by the floods.
On July 21, the Government approved the creation of a commission to design the mechanism for
water fund management and protection against flooding. The commission will be led by Mr.
Valeriu Lazar, Deputy-Prime Minister (hereafter referred to as Lazar Commission), and will
conduct a feasibility study of the areas under flooding risk from the Prut and Nistru rivers, as
well as near smaller rivers; and will assess the quality of existing dams. As a result of the work
of the commission, an action plan, covering measures for the construction, reconstruction and
fortification of the dams, hydro-technical systems, irrigation systems; pumping and water
evacuation systems, will be designed. A national strategy for water fund management and
protection against flooding will be as well initiated. This PDNA could be used as an input for
the work of the Lazar Commission.
Table: Timeline of Immediate Disaster Management Efforts
A command center lead by the Government Group, established in first 24 hours; Special
Working Group, chaired by Minister of State instituted, and deployed on the ground during the
peak of the disaster (three weeks)
725 persons immediately dislocated in the field (Army, Carabinieri, Police)
Around 1300 families evacuated from flooded and risk areas, 1800 rescue / evacuation missions
in first three days (goods and people)
Available aid immediately deployed from state resources: food, water, medicines, tents, fuel
Appeal by Prime Minister Vladimir Filat to the international community and development
partners
Special account opened with the Ministry of Finance for collecting provate donations.
Permanent information of the population (mobile audio devices, billboards, door-to-door)
carried out
First aid from development partners arrives to the field. Coordination assistance assigned with
Aid Coordination Unit in the State Chancellery. At regional (district) level, assistance
distribution coordinated by District Emergency Situations Committees
30 km of new temporary dams built and permanently maintained – over 200 households, 2
roads, saved from flood
2 bridges reinforced, alternative access roads built to flooded areas
4 mobile emergency posts, 3 permanent posts – over 240 people assisted; evacuated people
vaccinated against A Hepatitis.
With common (Government and Development Partners) efforts, immediate needs assessed and
ensured until September 30).
12 road police posts and one reinforced police department in Obileni instituted. 15 collection
and distribution points permanently guarded
Site in a risk-free area for building 700 new settlements identified, planning and design works
3
carried out
First preparations for the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment exercise
Mixed team of Government, UN, World Bank and European Commission experts start the PostDisaster Needs Assessment.
Request for Assistance and International Response
The Government issued a request to a number of external partners, asking for support in
mitigating the consequences of the floods. In response to this appeal, initial assistance was
provided by a number of donors. Others are providing in kind assistance i.e. boats, sand bags,
boots, pumps needed to remove the water from the flooded buildings as well as related man
power.
Social and Economic Background of the Affected Areas
There are 198,173 inhabitants living the in the communities that constitute the flooded area. The
affected area is predominantly rural (75%) in nature and around 10% of the population is
estimated to be permanently located out of the area for reasons connected with migration,
education, etc.
There are 76,128 families in the affected area, over 70% of which are located rural areas: 3.8%
of such families have 3+ children under the age of 18 and there are three times as many rural
families with disabled members than is the case with urban families (MoE, 2008).
The businesses sector, regardless of whether located in the flooded zones or not, is small
compared to the urban areas. Most such businesses concentrate on processing of agro-products,
as well as trade, light industry and services. In 2009 the size of the average micro enterprise in
the affected districts (districts) was 2.8 employees and the average turnover per employee was
86,500 lei in micro enterprises. The bulk of the economy in the affected area is agricultural in
nature; there are 25,545 agricultural producers with less than 10ha of land, the level at which the
farmers are considered to be economically viable. These agricultural producers, effectively
operating on a subsistence basis, account for 99% of all farmers in the area affected by the flood.
4
Section II. Estimate of Damage, Losses, Needs
and Human Development Impact
Objectives
Following the request for assistance from the Government of Moldova, a Post-Disaster Needs
Assessment has been conducted by the Government of Moldova supported by the European
Commission, United Nations and the World Bank, with the support of the Global Facility for
Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR).
The main objectives of the exercise were the following:
 Determine the socio-economic impact of the disaster including the valuation of damages
and losses and human recovery needs;
 Identify the damages and losses and their costs on physical structures, disruption of
essential public services and alteration of community processes, in the public and private
sector;
 Identify recovery and reconstruction needs per sector, including the human recovery
needs and establish the costing of response options in the short and medium term, to
inform the development of the recovery framework;
 Provide inputs to the Government in designing a Flood and multi Hazard Risk
Management strategy for reduction of present and future flooding and related hazards,
including the identification, prioritization and costing of new emerging activities
associated with the recovery and reconstruction efforts proposed after the current
disaster;
 Establish a coordinating mechanism among the international technical and financial
partners to enable the Government-led assessment and implementation strategy to be
adequately supported, and
 Build initial capacity of the government and local partners to conduct such assessments in
the future
Adequate attention and specific reference will be made to the needs of women, children, elderly,
ethnic minorities, and other vulnerable groups of population.
The scope of the PDNA included areas affected by the July 2010 floods.
Methodology
The present Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) combines the recognized Damage and
Losses Assessment methodology (DaLA) for the assessment of damages and losses and needs
with a UN assessment methodology to capture human development impact and the recovery
needs. Prior to the assessment, a one day training on the assessment methodology was carried out
for the Government and all the international agencies involved in the PDNA in order to enable a
more efficient kick-off of the exercise. The sectors and sub-sectors included in the assessment
are:
 Infrastructure:
o Flood Control and Dam Management
5



o Housing and Land Use
o Energy
o Transport
o Water Supply and Sanitation
Productive:
o Agriculture (Crops, Livestock, land)
o Livelihoods and Small Trading
Social (services + infrastructure):
o Education
o Health and Nutrition
o Social Protection
Cross-cutting
o Environment
o Disaster Risk Management (discussed separately in Section V)
The 2010 floods caused destruction of physical assets and decline in economic flows in
Moldova. Estimates show that the value of destruction of assets (damage) is 231.96 million
MDL, and that the reduction in flows of the economy (losses), arising from the flooding,
amounts to a further 595.86 million MDL7.
The structure of damage among sectors of economic activity in the affected areas is also of
special relevance since the infrastructures sectors sustained 67 percent and the productive sectors
sustained 26 percent of the total damages. The structure of losses is also concentrated heavily in
the infrastructure (70 percent) and productive (24 percent) sectors. While damage and losses in
the social and cross-cutting sectors are not large in financial terms, the human dimension of this
disaster remains as vital as is seen in the case of other natural disasters. This means lost incomes
for the affected population, together with property, makes the population especially vulnerable
and in need.
When breaking down the effects of the floods by individual sectors of economic activity, the
damages are concentrated heavily in sectors such as housing (84.0 million, or 36 percent of the
total), agriculture (56.13 million, or 24 percent) and transport (61.8 million, or 27 percent).
SECTOR IMPACTS
FLOOD CONTROL AND DAM MANAGEMENT
A. Pre-disaster Situation
The country has a flood protection system inherited from Soviet times, most of which under the
management of the “Apele Moldovei” – a specialized agency within the Ministry of
Environment in charge of water resources management. These dams/dykes protect 90 settlements
and approximately 87,000 hectares of agriculture lands, plus forests and pastures. These dams
6 A uniform Exchange rate of 12.82 Moldovan Lei per US Dollar has been used throughout the assessment, as the
average rate of Exchange for 2010 (until August 10, 2010).
6
are used for flood control, irrigation, recreation, energy or multipurpose tasks. Therefore, the
social and economic function of these dams is very important.
B. Impact of the flood on the Sector
Extreme rainfall in upstream of the Prut river originated breakups of several embankments in the
villages8 Nemteni, H?ncești, district, Stoianovca, Antonesti, Gotesti in Cantemir district with
high losses in assets and livelihood. Other dams constitute a major threat as they can break up
and flood further. The dyke in Cantemir breached and requires urgent repairs, putting at risk
9448 people, 2276 houses, and extensive agriculture fields (22,000 ha). Emergency measures,
includes discharging the water from the flooded valleys through artificial breaches of the dykes
allowing flood water flow back to the Prut river. Overall, there is critical lack of an effective
monitoring system with a need to update procedures and provisions of equipment (Annex 2).
C. Damage and Losses
Biggest damages incurred are in the H?ncești and Cantemir villages. Alltogether around 400m of
dykes have been breached and will have to be repaired; many dams are at risk and will have to
be rehabilitated.
D. Recovery and Reconstruction Needs
Many affected areas remain under water. An early need relates to pumping out water from
flooded irrigation and drainage stations. There is also an urgent need to repair protective dams in
Hincesti and Cantemir districts. Furthermore, state flood-control dams need to be cleared of
shrubs and trees. Apele Moldovei should also consider developing working drawings for repair
of dangerous areas on protective dams. In addition, it is recommended that a technical and
economic study of the flooded and potentially flooded areas along Nistru and Prut rivers is
carried out, with further actions targeting the vulnerable sites following the thorough
investigation.
An important step will be aligning the normative base to the lessons learned from the 2008 and
2010 floods. An important area of attention is to carry out an assessment of current policy and
legislation related to water resources management and bring them up to international standards,
as well as intensify cooperation with the neighboring countries in this area. Work could also be
initiated to develop an integrated flood management system aligning with the existing ones
according to Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) of the European Union Directive
2007/60/EC. Finally, the Government could consider setting up a state protective dams
monitoring service in a relevant organization.
Table: Damage, Losses and Needs in Flood Control and Dam Management
Currency
in million MDL
in million USD
Damage
0.04
0.00
Source: PDNA Estimates
Damage and Losses
Losses
Total
-
0.04
0.00
Short-term
12.49
0.97
Needs
Mediumterm
157.9
12.32
Total
170.38
13.29
8
Adapted from World Bank (WB) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 2006). A Hazardous
Existence: Managing Natural Livelihood Threats I Rural Moldova. Chisinau, June 2006.
7
HOUSING AND LAND USE
A. Pre-disaster Situation
Lands in the affected areas are classified as agricultural and residential, these areas being highly
vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes. In the affected
villages, housing and land are privately owned. Most housing units were single story, with
inexistent water supply and sewerage infrastructure; 5 to 10 households share a common well to
access water. Electricity networks were available, most roads were not paved.
B. Impact of the Flood
Villages and agricultural lands located in the lower level of the basin alongside the Prut River
were affected by the flood, resulting in damage and destruction of agricultural land, housing,
infrastructure, household goods, and livestock. Among 11 villages located in the basin, Cotul
Morii was most severely damaged, and is being relocated.
C. Damage and Losses
The impact of flood on housing is reported from Hînceşti, Nisporeni, Cantemir, and Ungheni
Districts. 1,111 housing units were destroyed, 8 units housings partially damaged. 9 Household
goods that are moveable were moved from houses as much as possible in the early stage of
flooding, although many household goods were still entirely or partially destroyed. 1,241
households were evacuated from the affected villages. In addition, 144 households from the
unaffected risk areas.
D. Recovery and Reconstruction Needs
An important issue that must be taken into account is land rights and poor cadastre records.
While 60% of Moldovan territories are officially registered, most of the villages affected by the
flood do not have up-to-date cadastral information. This poses serious challenges on recovery
and reconstruction of the housing and land use sector.
The needs in housing and land management sector could be categorized into the following three
areas: (1) provision of adequate temporary shelter; (2) registration of land and real property
ownership so that exposed people can relocate without threats to their land rights and security of
tenure; and (3) housing reconstruction. All activities responding to these needs should be led by
the public sector.
Recovery and reconstruction of the housing and land use sector in the affected areas should be
governed by three principles: (1) people-centered approach; (2) timeliness and feasibility; and (3)
national ownership.
Table: Damage, Losses and Needs in the Housing and Land Use sector
Damage and Losses
Needs
9
Destroyed refers to houses that have been identified as uninhabitable due to flood damage, including those that
were washed away. Partially damaged units are those which were partially flooded, but were still inhabitable.
However, in some partially damaged houses, the foundations were affected, which caused cracks in the wall and
would ultimately need to be rebuilt.
8
Currency
in million MDL
in million USD
Damage
84.00
6.55
Source: PDNA Estimates
Losses
304.60
23.76
Total
388.60
30.31
Short-term
219.00
17.08
Mediumterm
156.50
12.21
Total
375.50
29.29
ENERGY
A. Pre-Disaster Situation
The power sector in Moldova represents an important strategic infrastructure for the national
economy, being also an important public service with social impact. Electricity is the only
universal utility service in Moldova with 98% of households connected to the power grid. In
addition to the human development aspect of residential power service, the agricultural sector is
an important consumer of electricity in Moldova, and the reliability of service to this sector,
which is a major employer in rural locations where most of the nation’s poor are concentrated, is
crucial for ensuring its position as an engine of growth in Moldova.
The settlements affected by floods are not connected to the gas network, with the exception of
the village of Nemteni.
B. Impact of the Flood
The floods have affected the worst the electricity consumers in the four flooded villages in
H?ncești district, and partially other localities in the districts downstream. This area serviced by
FCC Union Fenosa10, which acted promptly to eliminate potential accidents by electrocution,
while ensuring in parallel a reliable power supply to consumers in risk-free adjacent areas.
C. Damage and loss assessment
Total damages to electricity equipment were estimated at about MDL 6.6 million. This
represents the amount estimated for investments into restoration of damaged infrastructure, as
well as the construction of a new extension grid to supply power to the new residential site
planned by the Government to relocate Cotul Morii.
Potential short- and mid-term losses by the company because of lost consumers could be
estimated at MDL 540 thousand and MDL 1.62 million respectively, totalling about MDL 2.2
million over the next 24 months. Table 4 provides an estimate of potential losses to the company
because of lost consumers11.
No significant losses have been registered in the existing gas distribution network of Nemteni.
D. Recovery and Reconstruction Needs
The Government announced its readiness for providing basic infrastructure services to the new
residential site for residents relocated from Cotul Morii, including electricity and natural gas.
10
Union Fenosa (www.ufmoldova.com) is the electricity distribution company acting in the Center and South of
Moldova. It serves about 75% of country’s electricity demand.
11
Incurring losses could, however, stop as soon as the damaged systems are restored and new residential site
inhabited.
9
The investments in new electricity infrastructure shall be made by Union Fenosa and will be
accounted as new investments in the future tariff revision by the energy regulator.
Regarding gas, however, in addition to building the internal distribution network, there is the
need to build about 36 km of gas transmission pipe with an estimated cost of MDL 16.2 million
to connect the new site and neighbouring affected villages to high pressure gas main.
Table: Damage, Losses and Needs in Energy
Currency
in million MDL
in million USD
Damage
6.56
0.51
Damage and Losses
Losses
Total
-
6.56
0.51
Short-term
6.56
0.51
Needs
Mediumterm
-
Total
6.56
0.51
Source: PDNA Estimates
TRANSPORT
A. Pre-Disaster Situation
Road Transport Sub-Sector. The districts where the road network was affected by the floods
along the Prut river (H?ncești, Cantemir, Ungheni, Cahul, Soldanesti) are served by a road
network consisting of 1,898.2 km of public roads of which 640.6 km are national roads (all
hard-paved) and 1,257.6 are local roads (1,132.8 are hard-paved roads). Road transport is an
important, efficient and relatively secure means of transportation adapted to the internal demand
of a small territory and trading with main CIS and neighboring countries. In 2009, road transport
accounted for 82% of total freight transport and 98% of passenger traffic in the country.
Moldova has a total of 9 railway connections with neighbouring networks. As of 2009, Moldova
had a total railway line length is 1 157 km. The density of the existing railway is equivalent to
the relevant value for neighbouring countries (Ukraine and Romania). Alghouth declining, rail
freight transport still provides an important level of services and is responsible for about 17% of
the total freight in Moldova.
B. Impact of the Flood on the Sector
While the floods had a severe local impact on a number of communities, especially in H?ncești
district where the village of Cotul Morii was totally submerged under water, the affected roads as
a share of total road network was not significant. Approximately a total 18 km of village streets
were flooded, about X km of local roads and Y km of national roads remaining under water.
The floods affected two portions of the railroad along the Prut river: the railroad CahulGiurgiulesti and 11 km of railroad in the sector Prut-2-Cahul were flooded. The Prut-2-Cahul
sector is still under water thereby disrupting normal passenger and freigh traffic.
C. Damage and Loss Assessment
It was not possible to properly ascertain the
physical damage caused to the roads by the
floods as most of them were still under
water. Based on certain assumptions, the
10
total damages to the road network are estimated at MDL 23,451,365.
Losses are associated with higher vehicle operating costs and longer travel times as a result of
worsened conditions or longer detours that drivers have to take. The calculation of losses for the
local roads is essentially impossible to make at the moment due to lack of traffic data, showing
no figures in the respective line. Based on the assumption that it would take about 12 months to
restore the R34 section to its pre-flood condition, the losses incurred made of higher vehicle
operating cost plus time costs were estimated at MDL 87,910,735.
Railways Sub-Sector. The damage estimate was provided by the state-owned Moldovan Railway
Company, assuming a need for capital repair of the flooded sections plus the replacement of the
telecommunications equipment that was submerged under water. The total is MDL 36,148,677.
The losses incurred by the railway were estimated as forgone revenue due disruption of normal
traffic. The total amount of losses to the railway sector assuming that it will take 12 months to restore the
normal traffic is estimated at MDL 9,904,012.
D. Recovery and Reconstruction Needs
Roads. In terms of short-term response, the Government reacted fast by creating an alternative
graded bypass route that goes in parallel to the R34 road. This road would need to be upgraded to
allow the resumption of normal traffic which is currently diverted to the national R56 and M3
roads. This would both reduce the indirect costs and prevent the damage caused R56 and M3
roads which have an inferior design to the R34 road.
Given the proposed relocation of all Cotul Morii inhabitants and some of the inhabitants from
Sarateni and Nemteni villages, an 8 km access road to the new village site is a short-term priority
need. Making village streets passable to basic community infrastructure, such as schools and
health posts is the last short-term need. The total short-term needs are estimated at MDL
18,219,276. In the medium-term, 1.5 km of the access road to Sarateni will require rehabilitation
within the next 12 months. Given the large accumulation of water on the R34 road, its slow
departure and the coming cold season, it is expected that its reconstruction to pre-disaster level
will also take up to 12 months. The medium-term needs are estimated at MDL 10,216,592.
Railways. The Government has already restored the damage to the Cahul-Giurgiulesti section. It
is expected that the restoration of the Prut-to-Cahul section to the pre-flood level will take up to
12 months. Once the water goes off the railway section, it is important to make a more accurate
assessment of the rehabilitation needs.
Table: Damage, Losses and Needs in Transport
Currency
Damage and Losses
Damage
Losses
Total
in million MDL
in million USD
61.80
4.82
97.81
7.63
159.61
12.45
Short-term
18.22
1.42
Needs
Mediumterm
46.13
3.60
Total
64.35
5.02
Source: PDNA Estimates
WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION
11
A. Pre-disaster Situation
Water Supply and Sanitation. Moldova’s water resources imply that the country is waterstressed. The Nistru river accounts for 84% of all water withdrawn, followed by the Prut river,
and by ground water supplies. The Nistru and Prut are classified as moderately contaminated,
water quality deteriorating downstream. Groundwater quality is uneven with a preoccupying
buildup of nitrates, ammonia, fluorides, and iron in some areas. The quality and reliability of
Moldova’s water supply and wastewater services are generally deficient, biggest problem being
in the rural areas.
Solid Waste Management
Solid waste management in Moldova is a public utility decentralized to local public authorities.
Overall monitoring and sector policies fall under the Ministry of Environment. Rural
communities in Moldova have no organized solid waste collection and disposal. Household solid
waste in most rural areas is transported by households themselves and damped in a purposely
designated barren land field outside village boundaries, with no further processing. This
represents a serious environmental problem.
B. Impact of the flood on the Sector
Damage and losses in the water supply and sanitation sector can be considered as relatively
small, considering pre-disaster poorly developed infrastructure for water supply and sanitation in
the flooded area. Biggest damage was done to shallow waters, artesian wells also suffered. A
small number of piped systems have been affected.
As there is no organized system for collection and disposal of households’ solid waste in rural
areas, the potential losses on solid waste are reduced to cleaning up and removal of accumulated
solid waste by local authorities and private households.
C. Damage and Losses
About 500 out of approximately 3500 shallow wells and springs and 13 out of 120 artesian wells
in about 17 villages have been reported completely flooded and/or affected due to contamination
by infiltration of flooded waters. Most affected the district of Hincesti with 214 wells flooded.
In the affected areas, flooding waters washed up solid waste, which contributed to additional
pollution of flooded areas.
E. Recovery and Reconstruction Needs
Water and sanitation infrastructure is obsolete and/or poorly developed throughout the country,
especially in the rural areas, including in the localities affected by floods. Therefore it is
recommended that the recovery and reconstruction strategy focuses on small scale projects at
household and community level, such as upgrading and improving existing sanitation facilities
and protecting existing water sources, including reducing the risk of groundwater contamination
by household sanitation and domestic livestock infiltrations. These could be done with reduced
costs and using local labor.
The government adopted a decision to relocate Cotul Morii to a new site by building about 700
new houses and providing public utilities infrastructure too, including water and sanitation. The
government should consider including too the already existing neighboring dwellings (Leușoaia)
in the proposed infrastructure development project.
12
While planning and deciding on new / extending water and sanitation infrastructure, one should
consider operational and maintenance costs too, as well as the organizational set up of consumers
of water supply and sanitation services.
Table: Damage, Losses and Needs in the Water and Sanitation sector
Damage and Losses
Needs
Currency
Damage
Losses
Total
ShortMediumterm
term
2.00
16.70
18.70
6.74
12.00
in million MDL
0.16
1.30
1.46
0.53
0.94
in million USD
Total
18.74
1.46
Source: PDNA Estimates
AGRICULTURE (Crops, Livestock, Irrigation/Drainage and Land)
A. Pre-Disaster Situation
The agricultural sector, including crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries, contributes to about
10% of the GDP and remains the most important source of livelihoods in rural areas.
Agricultural production and processing generate about 40% of export revenues, and employ
more than 33% of the economically active population. The main agricultural export products are
wine, fruits, vegetables and industrial crops.
Add 2-3 sentences on pre-disaster situation in the affected areas. Before disaster those regions
got a lot of rain – above annual average by June 2010, which did not allow the soil to absorb the
moisture that quick as if it would be dry.
B. Impact of the flood on the Sector
Heavy rains in Ukraine, Romania and Northern Moldova during the second and third weeks of
July caused significant floods along the Prut and Nistru (Dniester) rivers. Dilapidated
embankments, drainage and irrigation systems as well as poorly managed water systems were
ingredients of a potent recipe for disaster, which left many communities vulnerable. The floods
have affected nearly 8,000 people in mainly 11 districts. Other districts have also been affected
but to a lesser extent.
C. Damage and Loss Estimates
An estimated 6,144 ha of prime agricultural land has been affected, out of which 4,432 ha are
completely submerged. Current indications are that the submerged areas may not be ready for
cultivation over at least two additional cropping seasons (2011-12). H?ncești and Cantemir
districts are the worst affected accounting for most of the submerged areas. A total of 12
drainage and irrigation schemes in 4 districts have been damaged. Total damages and losses in
the agricultural sector have been estimated at about 195.8 million MDL.
In addition to the floods, which have affected a limited number of districts, hails and heavy rains
in late spring and early summer have also caused significant damages to crops. Government
estimates indicate that more than 30% of crops may have been lost due to hail and heavy rains in
the country. The great majority of lost crops are high-value crops such as vegetables, vineyards
and orchards, which are likely to have significant repercussions for food and livelihood security
13
in the country. Unfortunately, the mission did not have sufficient time to conduct a national level
crop assessment.
D. Recovery and Reconstruction Needs
The recovery strategy takes into account the short- and medium-term needs of the affected
population and their host families. The needs are also based on the Government’s existing and
medium-term plans, programs and strategy for the agricultural sector.
The proposed activities in the agricultural sector envisage reducing the likelihoods of extreme
measures by the households and the need for protracted relief operations, while building future
resilience and improving food and livelihoods security among the target communities. Whereas
proposals and activities are presented separately, almost all are inter-related. An integrated croplivestock system has already taken shape for a number of years and irrigation and drainage is
necessary to produce high-value crops and reduce the risk of crop losses to drought and high
water tables. The seemingly disjointed proposals may be considered as components of a
rehabilitation program.
It is important to note that the brief concepts presented below require further feasibility studies,
which was not allowed for within the scope of the PDNA mission. The overall objectives of the
proposed interventions are: (i) meet the immediate needs of the flood affected farming
households and their hosts with a view to reduce the likelihood of extreme measures by
households and the need for a protracted relief operation; (ii) improve livelihood and food
security of the affected population.
Table: Damage, Losses and Needs in Agriculture
Currency
Damage
in million MDL
in million USD
56.13
4.38
Damage and Losses
Losses
Total
139.67
10.89
195.80
15.27
Short-term
58.50
4.56
Needs
Mediumterm
87.10
6.79
Total
145.60
11.36
Source: PDNA Estimates
LIVELIHOODS AND SMALL TRADING
A. Pre-Disaster Situation
In order to have a clear picture on the livelihoods sector, all the settlements have been accounted
for, without taking into account the degree to which these were affected. There are 198,173
inhabitants living the in the communities that constitute the affected area (Ministry of Economy MoE, 2008). The area is predominantly rural in nature (75%) and around 10% of the population
is estimated to be permanently located out of the area for reasons connected with migration,
studies, etc.
The businesses sector, regardless of whether located in the flooded zones or not, is small
compared to the urban areas. Most such businesses concentrate on processing of agro-products,
as well as trade, light industry and services. At the national level, the poverty levels in rural areas
increased during 2009.
This, combined with the loss of agricultural income, implies a significant decrease in incomes in
the affected communities.
14
B. Impact of the flood on the Sector
The vast majority of the economy is rural and therefore agricultural in nature. This section
examines the impact of the flood on the non-farm economic activities. From this perspective, the
damages and losses are fairly mild, having affected only 4 shops and 2 industrial units.
Furthermore, damage has occurred to some of the community infrastructure: 2 cultural centres, 1
library and 1 church were affected. It should be noted that kindergartens, schools and health
clinics are discussed and assessed elsewhere in this report. All the damage and losses occurred in
Cotul Morii village, except for a mill in Sarateni, a construction business in Gotesti village and
one culture centre in Obileni village.
C. Damages and Losses
The total damage to the sector is estimated at 3102000 Lei whilst the estimated loss is 4051200
Lei. Therefore, compared with sectors such as housing and agriculture, the non-agricultural
(small trading) sector has experienced relatively modest damages and losses. This reflects the
very high concentration of activities in the rural sector and the subsistence nature of the
economy. The latter implies that, in addition to replacing the lost business activity, it is necessary
to give significant policy attention to the need to raise both agricultural and non- agricultural
incomes so as to sustain rural livelihoods. At the same time, it is necessary to diversify the local
economy.
D. Recovery and Reconstruction Needs
This section presents a brief analysis of the situation in the affected areas from a broad
livelihoods and non-agricultural perspective. The issues raised below probably only represent a
subset of the problems being experienced in the flooded affected area, based on a livelihoods
perspective.
Impact on basic needs and services: emergency food provision; state financial support; relocation
of villages together with information on relocation; compensation for housing, lost crops,
livestock are fields where the Government has started the process. Improvement in coordination
and information is, however, highly recommended.
Post-disaster Livelihoods: the issue of assistance with reconstruction of the future new homes by
the flood victims on a cash for work / public works basis is critical. Equally important, is the
necessity for due consideration and planning for post-disaster livelihoods. There is a need to
assist the districts and communities to plan and implement a post-disaster livelihoods strategy
focusing on re-establishing the lost non-agricultural economic activities, diversification of the
local economy and generating sustainable livelihoods, especially in the most severely affected
areas.
The strategy for recovery and reconstruction relies
awareness raising, regular and proactive information
of the local communities affected by the flood. This
between the Government, the districts and the
on the application of principles such as
provision, consultation and empowerment
in turn necessitates effective coordination
communities/mayoralties at the lower
15
geographical scale. In addition, a number of elements will be required in order to reduce the
vulnerability of the livelihoods, as well as ensure the reduction of disaster risk.
Table: Damage, Losses and Needs in the Livelihoods and Small Trading sector
Currency
Damage
in million MDL
in million USD
3.10
0.24
Damage and Losses
Losses
Total
4.05
0.32
7.15
0.56
Short-term
8.93
0.70
Needs
Mediumterm
16.50
1.29
Total
25.43
1.98
Source: PDNA Estimates
EDUCATION
A. Pre-Disaster Situation
In 2009/2010 school year there were 419 educational institutions in Cantemir, Hincesti,
Nisporeni, Stefan Voda and Ungheni districts, including 201 pre-school institutions and 218
schools, gymnasiums and lyceums. Total number of enrolled children was 71,999, including
16,257 children in pre-school institutions and 55,742 students in schools. In the pre-floods period
there were 17 schools and 16 pre-school educational institutions in the mostly flood-affected
villages of the above mentioned districts.
B. Impact of the flood
The July 2010 floods affected 1,663 children of 0-18 years old in Cantemir (279), Hincesti
(1077), Nisporeni (27), Stefan Voda (62) and Ungheni(218), including 455 children of preschool age. One third of the total number of children are directly affected and have been
displaced, the rest are indirectly affected as their families have lost agricultural land/plots, crops
and other property.
The localised geographical parameters and the quantitative characteristics of the flood-incurred
damages and losses in the education sector made no significant impact on the national education
system as a whole. However, it deteriorated the situation for the sector in Hincesti, the mostly
affected district, where several educational institutions have been affected directly and indirectly
mainly in Cotul Morii, Sarateni, Obileni and Nemţeni.
Directly affected by flood: one kindergarten and one school in Cotul Morii village (H?ncești
district) were completely destroyed by the flooded waters, as the whole village. The personnel
of Cotul Morii school and kindergarten could lose their jobs in the education sector as the village
and educational institutions no longer exist. No other public educational establishments
(buildings or assests) in the flooded districts had any direct impact of the natural disaster, though
being used as a temporary shelter (Obileni and Nemţeni Gymnaziums; students hostel of
Hâncești College) for the evacuees, rescuers, army, resettled population, the school premises are
disarranged and need to be renovated and put in order before the new school year starts on 1
September.
16
C. Damages and Losses
Cotul Morii Gymnazium and kindergarten: The buildings and all assets have been damaged and
lost. Sarateni Gymnazium is affected indirectly as 50 from 70 school children are from the
families whose houses were flooded and they will be resettled to the other places. Twenty
school-age children will remain in the village and there will be a need to arrange transportation
to a new destination school in a nearby village.
Teachers and other personnel employed in the educational sector in Cotul Morii (36) and
Sarateni (14) are at risk of losing their job because of the flood impact, and there is a need to
consider their redeployment to other educational institutions as well as their resettlement options
to the villages where additional classes are planned to be opened. There is nocertainty about the
employment of all the affected teachers, kindergarteners, educational institution employees: as
a result of the floods, they may fall into unemployed category, and the unemployment benefits
will be paid.
D. Recovery and Reconstruction Needs
The main set of response measures in regard to the impact of floods on the education sector is
focusing on meeting the child’s right for education and development and providing the floodstricken children with the access to other educational institutions preventing the separation of the
families.
For “Building Back Better” the national and local authorities are using the opportunity to
renovate and modernise the rundown educational facilities and improve the facilities and
conditions for students, teachers and pre-school children to meet a criteria of child-friendly and
hazard-resistant standards for reconstruction of schools and also the addressing children’s
learning/teaching needs as the majority of buildings have long lasting problems with sanitation ,
running water supply, heating, sport and play grounds, furniture, educational equipment, and
catering facilities. A safe and secure learning environment that promotes the protection and
well-being of students is to be ensured for all girls and boys .
Life skills education/activities and life saving information, with a focus on disaster risk
reduction, should be age-targeted and included into both formal and non-formal education. Safe
school construction assessments are to be initiated by the educational authorities. All educational
establishments for children regularly undergo assessments on risk resilience.
Girls and boys, including preschool-age children, children with special needs, have access to
quality education opportunities and appropriate life-saving skills programmes and information
about the emergency. Safe and secure learning and recreation environment that promotes the
protection and well-being of children is ensured for all.
Table: Damage, Losses and Needs in Education
Currency
in million MDL
Damage
-
Damage and Losses
Losses
Total
18.94
18.94
Short-term
26.32
Needs
Mediumterm
12.60
Total
38.92
17
in million USD
-
1.48
1.48
2.05
0.98
3.04
Source: PDNA Estimates
HEALTH AND NUTRITION
A. Pre-Disaster Situation
Prior to the flood, the health care in the affected districts of Cantemir, H?ncești, Nisporeni,
Ungheni, Cahul and Briceni was provided by public medical-sanitary institutions and individual
outpatient settings. The human resources constitute 864 doctors and 2,790 nurses. The total
population served in all the 6 districts was 570,500 people, including 31,816 under-5-age
children. Currently the nutritional policies implemented in Moldova focus on promotion of
breastfeeding, reduction of micronutrients deficiencies, and increasing access for pregnant
women and under-5-age children to micronutrients by providing them with free iron and folic
acid . The nutritional status of children is monitored by the primary health care workers in
accordance with the Ministry of Health standards.
B. The Impact of the Flood on the Sector
In affected areas the number and type of medical institutions has not changed, continuing to
work under a normal regime, except in Hincesti where prior to the flood there were 4 primary
healthcare institutions serving over 6,000 people. As a result of the disaster the activity of 3
rural healthcare institutions was stopped, reducing the district’s access to health care services
caused by damages to the physical infrastructure. During the flood, the health care in H?ncești
district was organized and provided by opening 3 additional health care units at the Health
Centre and the gymnasium in Nemteni, and at the gymnasium in Obileni at in i . Four teams of
doctors and nurses, who were providing healthcare 24/7, were working in the medical units, two
additional health care units at the Construction College and Polyvalent School in Hincesti, where
over 250 affected people were relocated.
The provision of an appropriate response by the Ministry of Health and local public
administration authorities has contributed to diminishing the damages on health and food safety
for the affected people.
C. Damage and Losses
Damages and losses of physical infrastructure and medical equipment/furniture have been
registered only in H?ncești district: 3 medical institutions were affected by the flood, in Cotul
Morii, Obileni, Sarateni being flooded to different extent. As a result of intensive use in the
response to floods, the medical equipment of bacteriological laboratory of Public Health Centre
H?ncești is out of order and an ambulance car was completely damaged.
D. Recovery and Reconstruction Needs
To avoid short-term negative impact on the population's access to quality health care services
and the smooth functioning of the medical institutions, financial sources should be identified to
cover the expenditures incurred for medical specialist, secondary technical staff, construction of
new medical institutions and provision of medical equipment, and modern means of
communication and transport. In the medium- and long-term, the flood may have a negative
impact on the nutritional status of population, especially of young children, due to the loss of
agricultural products and livestock by households.
18
The strategy for health sector recovery and reconstruction in the affected areas is to restore and
modernize the physical infrastructure of the medical institutions, provide for human resources
and transport, ensure the economic and physical accessibility of drugs, food safety and nutrition,
in particular for young children.
Short-term needs of the health sector include the construction of a primary health care institution
for displaced communities, Cotul Morii and Sarateni villages in Hincesti district, and its
provision with equipment; the provision of disinfectants and consumables to ensure the
protection of public health and removal of flood consequences; covering the unplanned extra
expenditures of the medical institutions incurred as a result of flood consequences removal;
procurement of food for young children; carrying out a public information campaign on the
negative impact of flood consequences on health (informing about the harm of mold, moisture in
the room, the consumption of foodstuff products from flooded territories, the use of water for
drinking and cooking, and measures of protection against contagious diseases).
Table: Damage, Losses and Needs in Health and Nutrition
Currency
in million MDL
in million USD
Damage
0.95
0.07
Damage and Losses
Losses
Total
2.86
0.22
3.82
0.30
Short-term
21.98
1.71
Needs
Mediumterm
8.66
0.68
Total
30.64
2.39
Source: PDNA Estimates
SOCIAL PROTECTION
A. Pre-Disaster Situation
The July 2010 floods along the river Prut resulted in evacuation of 3,114 persons (1,293
families), including 614 children, from 1,084 flooded houses and adjacent area. . This increased
the number of vulnerable individuals and families and placed immediate requirements for
resettlement , food, water, sanitary and non-food supplies, compensations, psycho-social support
. The flood-stricken population is rural and relied predominantly upon revenues from the
agricultural produce they grew on their land; almost all of it was lost in the flooding.
B. Impact of the flood on the Sector
Keeping with the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family’s strategy, the systems at the
district level are ready to implement the most urgently-needed actions , including the provision
of food and non-food aid to flood-stricken population, registration of all beneficiaries for
different short-term emergency and recovery assistance. Persons who have been receiving Ajutor
Social and nominative categorical compensations before the flooding have continued to receive it
afterwards. It is expected, however, due to loss of main sustenance (agricultural land) and loss of
property that many additional persons and households will apply – and qualify – for targeted
social assistance (Ajutor Social).
19
At the initial stage of the disaster, the social protection sections and districts’ administrations
distributed over 322.13 tons of emergency aid (i.e., foodstuff, personal use items, hygienic
products and essential goods) to the affected and displaced population. Shortly after the disaster,
as one-time measure, the Government announced that every affected person is entitled to onetime cash compensations of 500MDL.
C. Damage and Losses
Physical damage to a building that housed a social protection unit occurred in Cotul Morii; the 2
staff were temporarily relocated to the offices in Obileni village.
D. Recovery and Reconstruction
Field observations, meetings and discussions with the affected people, social sector authorities
and social assistance providers informed priority areas for mitigating the negative flood impacts
on the most vulnerable groups and the recovery of poor rural communities: housing, social
assistance, employment scheme, psychosocial support to the flood-affected and displaced
population.
People who were receiving nominative social assistance or Ajutor Social (targeted social
assistance) before the floods had continued receiving it after the floods. The recipients of
targeted social assistance, however, will significantly increase in the next couple of months, due
to extensive loss of increased vulnerability and poverty (i.e. loss of personal land, livestock and
property)
Employment programmes, like active inclusion in public works on reconstruction, could
decrease the need for additional benefits, while the well promoted Ajutor Social programme l redirects the cash benefits flows towards the most vulnerable groups.
Table: Damage, Losses and Needs in Social Protection
Currency
Damage and Losses
Damage
Losses
Total
in million MDL
in million USD
-
-
-
Short-term
11.31
0.88
Needs
Mediumterm
2.6
0.21
Total
13.98
1.09
Source: PDNA Estimates
ENVIRONMENT
A. Pre-Disaster Situation
Climatic and soil conditions allow the Prut River floodplain to have a diversity of forest and
wetland ecosystems. There are 8,072 ha of forests and about 14,000 ha of natural lakes and
wetlands located here, including two internationally important nature reserves: "Prut de Jos";
and “Padurea Domneasea”. “Prutul de Jos” reserve has a total area of 1,691 ha and jointly with
neighbouring natural Lake Manta represents a unique ecosystem, considered as the last natural
wetland floodplain in the lower Danube region. The “Padurea Domneasea” forest nature reserve
with an area of 6,500ha is located in the mid Prut River Valley and represents a unique
ecosystem composed of meadow oak forests and wetlands. Both nature reserves support globally
vulnerable and endangered of fish, birds, and the mammals species and are important for water
20
wolf birds being located within one of the major international migratory corridors. The Prut river
valley—and especially its flood zone—were not subject to significant human impact. Most of
the natural habitats, including its forests, were kept intact. Furthermore, with only few
exceptions, there were no potential sources of pollution (e.g., warehouses of agrichemicals,
gasoline stations and/or any industrial enterprises). Part of the floodplain in the mid and lower
part of the river was drained and brought into agricultural production.
B. Impact of the flood on the Sector
The environmental impacts of May-July 2010 floods are low to moderate and largely related to
the following: (a) the dispersion of household wastes into the Prut river; (b) inundation and
contamination of community water wells, including deep water wells; (c) destruction of fish
spawning grounds, breeding and feeding areas; and, (d) impacts on solid wastes land fields. The
damage to natural ecosystems and important habitats (forests and wetlands) was not significant.
The long term impacts during recovery and reconstruction time will be mostly dealing with: (i)
solid waste and debris management; (ii) sourcing of construction materials; (iii) recovery and
improving of forest ecosystems as well as reproduction of fish resources; (iv) needs for
strengthening of environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and environmental management
capacities of district environmental authorities and of local councils.
Based on analytical data it is possible to conclude that no serious contamination resulted from
the flooding. At the same time, the flooding caused serious impacts on Prut river fish resources.
Most of the fish spawning grounds, breeding and feeding areas were destroyed. Valuable fish
species migrated to the meadows of the river and, after the waters recede, will remain in separate
ponds and lakes. Once the level of water in these temporary water reservoirs recedes, in the
conditions of high temperatures the fish will die causing considerable losses to river ecosystem.
The flooding also caused serious impacts and damage to forest resources, especially to newly
planted areas.
C. Damage and losses
The attached table provides an estimate of damage
and losses. Direct damage to fish resources and
forests resources is expected.
Potential
environmental losses might include the following:
(a). Management of debris and wastes during
recovery and reconstruction stages which might
require additional resources and cause new
environmental impacts; (b) Impact of sourcing
reconstruction building materials. Rebuilding and
repair of houses, roads, bridges, etc, will require
important supplies of natural resources, e.g.
stones, clay soil, and sand. If managed poorly,
accelerated extraction of these resources to meet increased demand could result in negative
environmental impacts; (c). Forest recovery and reconstruction costs. Taking into account the
long flooding causes damage to the status of forests, for improving their status it would be
necessary additional sanitary cuttings, replanting, cleaning-up and maintenance activities; (d)
21
Recovery measures for fish resources. The creation of a special reproduction Center for
improving reproduction of the fish resources is proposed and (e) Additional costs for conducting
environmental assessment for the reconstruction programs and projects and for strengthening
environmental institutions. Reconstruction requires increased demand for the district authorities’
and local councils’ environmental assessment and management.
D. Recovery and Reconstruction Needs
The volume of the debris to be collected and construction wastes to be removed, the extent to
what the fish and forest resources have been damaged, and the quantity of agricultural and
household pollutants entering into Prut river are the main environmental problems related to the
current flooding. These findings and proposed measures to address them should be incorporated
into long-term restoration and reconstruction programs to eliminate unacceptable environmental
impacts from subsequent flooding. Specifically, recurring losses and negative intrusions into
environmental systems could be avoided, or at least minimized, by identifying, measuring, and
interpreting the magnitude and significance of environmental impacts associated with flooding.
The immediate recovery measures are related to conducting clean up, maintenance and sanitary
cuttings and replanting activities in the forest sector as well as measures for increasing
reproduction of fish resources.
Table: Damage, Losses and Needs in Environment
Currency
Damage
in million MDL
in million USD
17.37
1.35
Damage and Losses
Losses
Total
11.22
0.88
28.59
2.23
Short-term
0.20
0.02
Needs
Mediumterm
15.49
1.21
Total
15.69
1.22
Source: PDNA Estimate
22
Section III. Economic and Social Impact
3.1 Macroeconomic Impact
According to preliminary PDNA analysis of damage and losses, July floods caused by heavy
rains in some parts of Romania, Moldova and Ukraine had only small impact on the GDP of
Moldova for 2010 —estimated at 0.15 percent of GDP—as directly affected regions were mostly
making part of agricultural production accounting for about only 8-9 per cent of the Moldova’
GDP. However, once projected public and private recovery and reconstruction spending are
included, 2011-2012 GDP will be affected positively thanks to the recovery and reconstruction
activity expected to take place those years (real GDP growth increasing by about 0.1-0.3
percentage points of GDP in 2011-2012). Based on sector information about losses, two most
affected GDP sectors are agriculture and transport (about 60 per cent and 38 per cent of GDP
losses respectively.)
Given that total surface of agricultural land suffered due to floods does not exceed 0.4 percent of
total agricultural land in Moldova, the impact of this natural disaster on agricultural exports will
be negligible. No other exports are reported to be affected. The floods have directly affected
more than 3 thousand people. Some of their relatives working abroad will most likely respond by
higher remittances to affected communities. It is difficult to estimate exactly by how much their
remittances will increase the overall level of remittances in the country. However even taking
into account relatively conservative number of more than three hundred thousand Moldovans
working abroad, the increase in total number of remittances produced by members of affected
families will most likely hardly be noticed. At the same time short and medium term recovery
needs will definitely generate an additional inflow of imports of different kinds. Based on the
summary table of damages, losses and needs additional imports may constitute up to 30 million
USD in 2010 and 40 million USD in 2011. (0.8 percent and 0.9 percent of merchandise imports
respectively) Therefore, the total negative impact of July floods on the Current Account Deficit
of the Balance of Payments is estimated not to exceed 0.4-0.6 percent of GDP in 2010-2011.
This amount will be lower if donors come up with additional money in the form of official
transfers to compensate the damage and losses.
Assuming most of the recovery needs will be covered by the budget, its expenditures should
increase respectively by up to 380 million MDL in 2010 and up to 514 million MDL in 2011.
Thus, the deficit of the general government budget may increase by about 0.5 per cent in 2010
and 0.6 percent in 2011. At the same time it should be mentioned that the state budget of 2010 as
well as 2011 do not have the sources to cover these costs. Therefore it is expected that these
expenditures will be covered from the resources accumulated on the special account
accumulating financial assistance aimed to remove the consequences of natural calamities (there
were 26.4 million MDL accumulated on this account as of August 11, 2010 with 1.3 million
MDL being already distributed) as well as from additional external non-reimbursable financial
assistance.
Impact on Livelihoods and Incomes
23
There are 198,173 inhabitants living the in the communities that constitute the flooded area. The
affected area is predominantly rural (75%) in nature and around 10% of the population is
estimated to be permanently located out of the area for reasons connected with migration,
studies, etc. Table 1 sets out the nature of the population structure in the flooded area.
Table 1: General Population Characteristics of the Flooded Communities (2008)
Affected area
Population Men
Women
Present
% Present
Urban areas (small towns)
49289
23069
26020
44420
90.1
Rural areas
148884
73608
75476
136100
91.4
Total
198173
96677
101496
180520
91.1
Source: Ministry of Economy (MoE)
There are 76,128 families in the affected area, over 70% of which are located rural areas: 3.8%
of such families have 3+ children under the age of 18 and there are three times as many rural
families with disabled members than is the case with urban families (MoE, 2008).
The businesses sector, regardless of whether located in the flooded zones or not, is small
compared to the urban areas. Most such businesses concentrate on processing of agro-products,
as well as trade, light industry and services. In 2009 the size of the average micro enterprise in
the affected districts was 2.8 employees and the average turnover per employee was 86,500 lei in
micro enterprises. The bulk of the economy in the affected area is agricultural in nature; there are
25,545 agricultural producers with less than 10ha of land, the level at which the farmers are
considered to be economically viable. These agricultural producers, effectively operating on a
subsistence basis, account for 99% of all farmers in the area affected by the flood.
Modova’s official national unemployment rate in 2009 was relatively modest (6.4%) by
comparison with neighbouring countries, although this is known to be an underestimate, partly
because of the degree of migration. The official national male unemployment rate 7.8% is
significant higher than that of females (4.9%); and the youth unemployment rate stands at 15.4%
(15-24 years). However, the data from the flooded communities show that the unemployment
rate stands at 5.8% in urban areas but is more than double in rural areas (12.7%); these figures
are indicative only but illustrate the degree of the problem.
Poverty and Deprivation
At the national level, the poverty levels in rural areas increased during 2009: the absolute poverty
rate reached 36.3% (+1.7% compared with 2008) for rural areas compared to 12.6% (-3.6%) in
urban areas, including small towns (MoE, 2008). Out of the total number of flooded villages, 6
communities are part of the category of the most deprived communities at the national level, out
of which 3 are from the Hincesti district (Cotul Morii, Obileni, Nemţeni); the other three are
from the districts of Ungheni (Medeleni), Nisporeni (Bărboieni) and Briceni (Lopatnic).
Employment
Because the affected area is predominantly agricultural in nature, the employment impact of the
flood has been relatively modest. The affected non-agricultural sector (comprising shops, mills
and construction units) employed 11 people, none of whom is working any longer. The owners
24
of the respective businesses anticipate re-starting their activities by the beginning of 2011,
assuming they receive some financial support for example in the form of interest free loans. In
the context of the cultural facilities (cultural centres, library ad church), 9 public officials were
affected.
Income
National data show that income from wages is the most important source of family revenues,
though this is more important in urban than rural areas (wages contribute 58.1% Vs 30.6% of the
overall family income). The second most important source of income, in both urban and rural
areas, is social contributions (14.8% Vs 20.6%) such as pensions and child benefits. A key
source of income in rural areas is remittances from family and friends working abroad though
this is particularly important in rural areas (12.6% Vs 20%). Since most rural activities in
Moldova are subsistence in nature, income from agricultural activity remains relatively important
in rural areas (18%); unsurprisingly, it is negligible in urban areas (0.9%).
Table 2: National Urban and Rural Incomes Data (2009)
Disposable income
Income from wages
Income from agricultural activity
Income from non-agricultural activity
Income obtained from property
Social payments
Pensions
child benefits
Compensations
social aid
Other incomes
Remittances
Urban
1477.1
858.5
12.9
107.0
3.8
218.6
183.6
8.6
7.8
0.3
276.4
185.5
Rural
939.2
287.8
169.1
53.1
0.4
193.1
165.2
5.4
8.8
1.3
235.7
207.0
Urban %
100.0
58.1
0.9
7.2
0.3
14.8
12.4
0.6
0.5
0.0
18.7
12.6
Rural %
100.0
30.6
18.0
5.7
0.0
20.6
17.6
0.6
0.9
0.1
25.1
22.0
Data source: National Bureau of Statistics
Remittances represent an important source of income to overcome poverty in the country – it
reduced by 11% the risk of the population falling below the poverty line (“Poverty and Policy
Impact report, MoET, 2008). However, other sources of income data indicate that the level of
remittances is being severely impacted by the economic crisis. Remittance levels in rural areas
decreased significantly (17%) in early 2009 according to a joint UN/World Bank assessment
(“Impact of the Economic Crisis on Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Moldova”,
2009). Furthermore, between Q4 2008 and Q1 2009, income from self-employment in
agriculture experienced a 25% contraction.
25
The steep decline in remittances, combined with the loss of agricultural and livestock income,
implies a significant decrease in incomes in the affected communities. It is possible that the
amount of remittances received by the families affected by the flood might increase to cover the
losses of household. However, this cannot be taken for granted (informal discussions with flood
victims suggest that there has not been an increase in remittance flows) due to the global
economic crisis. It should be noted that remittances make-up a larger part of revenues in better
off households than in the poorer ones in Moldova, nevertheless, there is likely to be a negative
impact which will affect the most vulnerable households disproportionately.
The loss of income from salaries and wages will almost certainly mean that the poverty levels in
the affected areas are very likely to increase dramatically over the next 24 months if
compensatory action is not taken. The coincidence of the emergency situation with the wider
financial and economic crises is likely to sharpen the poverty effects in the affected areas.
26
Section IV. Recovery and Reconstruction
Framework
Introduction
This part of the report presents the recovery and reconstruction requirements to restore the
livelihoods of the affected individuals and households and the economic output of the affected
areas back to pre-disaster levels and to build back the destroyed physical infrastructure assets and
restore the services to their pre-disaster functioning level. The estimation of the recovery and
reconstruction effort takes into account the principle of “build-back-better,” to ensure that the
damaged assets that are rebuilt in a way to reduce the risks associated with similar disasters in
the future.
The recovery and reconstruction needs could serve as the basis for the preparation, by the GOM,
of a detailed action plan as the basis for implementation.
Recovery and Reconstruction Framework
The PDNA forms the basis for a comprehensive recovery and reconstruction framework that
combines short-term, medium-term, and long-term needs. Given the nature of Moldova’s floods,
the focus of the PDNA has been on the short-term recovery needs, which encompasses the first
six-month period (up to December 31, 2010) and the medium-term recovery and reconstruction
needs, spanning an estimated two years (up to June 30, 2012). In some specific areas, long-term
needs have been identified within the context of disaster risk management to reduce the
vulnerability and risk of occurrence of a similar disaster in the future.
Post-disaster environments can pose challenges but also present opportunities to address
difficult, long-standing development issues. While the floods have been localized in a few areas
of the country, there is a lot of awareness of the risks associated with natural disasters and a keen
desire to reduce risks and losses associated with them. With climate variability adding to
uncertainties, developing countries such as Moldova have to do even more to safeguard gains in
poverty reduction and economic growth.
The consequences of natural disasters will continue to take a toll on Moldova’s people and its
economy if adequate measures are not taken to reduce risk. While the occurrence of the type of
floods as witnessed currently is described as relatively infrequent, the country is only two years
removed from the severe flooding in 2008. Therefore, the country needs to prepare itself for
floods of this magnitude to happen more frequently in the future. This has to be looked into
holistically with a particular focus on land use planning, maintenance, rehabilitation or
reconstruction of the flood management infrastructure, early warning forecasting, and the
continued focus on strengthening the capacity of the country’s disaster response and coordination
mechanisms, which can be critical in managing the consequences of natural disasters. Building
back better is essential, but it is not enough. Assuming that the flooding could not have been
prevented, its impact could have been reduced. For example, in the aftermath of a previous
flood, the residents of the then affected Cotul Morii village did not accept a relocation plan,
27
instead rebuilding in the location that now is inundated and unsuitable for habitation. As a result,
a high cost has been borne in terms of human suffering for the villagers and potential adverse
impacts on the Government’s resources.
As is the case with most natural disasters, the poor and vulnerable were disproportionately
affected by the floods, and efforts to help restore their housing and their livelihoods are urgently
needed. More importantly, however, field visits by the different sectoral teams have revealed that
there is a lack of a communication between different levels of Government and the affected
population. At a time when dislocated (and sometimes separated) families may wonder about
their misfortune, their lot can worsen if they lack a sense of what the future holds for them.
Under such circumstances, it is imperative to discuss with affected people a roadmap to recovery
and reconstruction, giving them an opportunity to participate in efforts to restore livelihoods and
rebuild the fabric of their lives. While tending to the needs of those who have been displaced,
the Government could also think through policies that might encourage the development of more
disaster-resilient communities as well as risk reducing practices.
.
Strategic Priorities
An effective recovery and reconstruction program is required to address the needs of those most
affected by the floods. The preparation of such a program could be guided by a framework that
focuses on five priority issues: (i) housing support for dislocated families; (ii) restoration of
livelihoods; (iii) flood management; and, (iv) disaster risk management.
Housing and Land Use: The flood had significant impact on the lives of the exposed people,
damaging and destroying their houses and forcing them to be displaced. The majority of the
displaced population (with the exception of those in Cotul Morii) are staying with their relatives.
While they have access to basic services such as water, electricity, and sanitation, they are
crowded into small spaces because several households have to share a small house. In many
instances, those who evacuated to their relatives’ dwellings are able to stay within their villages;
nonetheless, they do not have access to their agricultural land, on which they rely to earn income.
However, much of their agricultural land is also partially or entirely submerged. During a town
hall meeting organized by the Government, in conjunction with the PDNA exercise, an informal
survey was conducted where the majority of people being housed at the Technical College for
Building Construction in Hînceşti reported that they did not want to return to their previous
villages. To ensure feasibility and sustainability of the recovery and reconstruction efforts, lands
outside of the flood and landslide zones may need to be acquired so that exposed people can
relocate safely. Furthermore, basic infrastructure services (water, electricity, roads, sanitation,
gas etc.) will be needed to ensure a reasonable quality of life for the displaced people. It may
also be desirable that lands near the original villages are acquired for relocation, considering
cultural connections of exposed people to their original lands. Finally, recovery and
reconstruction of the housing and land use sector in the affected areas should be governed by
three principles: (i) participatory planning; (ii) timeliness and feasibility; and (iii) national
ownership.
Livelihoods/Agriculture/Social Protection: The issue of assistance with reconstruction of the
future new homes by the flood victims on a cash for work / public works basis could be critical.
Equally important, is the necessity for due consideration and planning for post-disaster
28
livelihoods. There is a need to assist the districts and communities to plan and implement a postdisaster livelihoods strategy focusing on re-establishing the lost non-agricultural economic
activities, diversification of the local economy and generating sustainable livelihoods, especially
in the most severely affected areas. The strategy for recovery and reconstruction relies on the
application of principles such as awareness raising, regular and proactive information provision,
consultation and empowerment of the local communities affected by the flood. This in turn
necessitates effective coordination between the Government (not least the Ministries of State,
Interior, Economy, Agriculture, Construction and Regional Development and Labour, Social
Protection and Family), as well as between the district and the communities/mayoralties at the
lower geographical scale.
Disaster Risk Management/Flood Management: While flood management is an integral part
of disaster risk management, it requires special mention as a separate priority given the
immediate cause of the current disaster. However, DRM is a broader concept that can help a
country become proactive, coherent, and effective when it comes to preparing for natural (or
man-made) disasters, reducing associated risks, or for dealing with their consequences when they
do occur. In Moldova’s context, the Government has already initiated efforts to strengthen the
country’s DRM capacity. For example, just as the country was in the middle of dealing with the
floods, a World Bank-supported project was approved that will strengthen the State
Hydrometeorological Service’s capacity to deliver better and timely weather forecasts. In
addition, the project will support the Department of Exceptional Situations (DES) to better
coordinate disaster response by establishing a modern emergency command centre. These
activities had been planned before the onset of floods and it is commendable that the
Government was already focusing on the important area of DRM. But, the needs in this area are
broader and will require more attention in the future. Three additional areas are worth
mentioning. These include: (i) developing a risk financing framework, which can guide the
country’s choices in mitigating the financial risks of disasters; (ii) clarifying and strengthening
institutional mechanisms for coordinating disaster risk reduction, response and recovery; and (iii)
developing awareness and capacity at the community level to prepare for and respond to natural
disasters.
Flood Risk Management. Moldova’s flood management system is comprised of protection
dykes and dams. There are 126 dams with storage volume of more than one million cubic meters
and 3,000 dams with storage volume less than one million cubic meters for water impoundment.
Thirty eight dams out of 126 are dams managed by the “Apele Moldovei” Agency, for operation
and maintenance. These dams are used for flood control, irrigation, recreation, energy or other
tasks. Therefore, the social and economic function of these dams is very important.
Unfortunately, this protective system is very old and has been degraded over time due to a
number if reasons including lack of maintenance and rehabilitation. But, from urgent measures
to repair breaches in embankments to more strategic rehabilitation and reconstruction of this
system, the needs in this area are immense. However, strengthening this system is a vital part of
the country’s ability to manage flood risks. A way forward would be to focus on the short-term
needs identified by this assessment and in the medium-term focus on serious measures for
strengthening flood management starting with the finalization of a strategy on the development
and management of water resources and protection against floods.
29
Financing
Financing needs as a result of this disaster are substantial and doing nothing would be a mistake.
The PDNA estimates the cost of recovery and reconstruction at US$ 75.01 million. Given the
very limited capacity of the flood management system as well as the overall DRM system in
Moldova, and the possibility of increased frequency and intensity of floods, such costs could be
expected to recur more frequently unless urgent efforts are made to mitigate the effects of future
disasters. Financing could come from a number of sources but the Government may request
financial support from international development partners. This is because Moldova has only
recently begun to recover from the severe effects of the global economic crisis and the
Government has limited resources at its disposal. Funding could also be mobilized through other
modalities: borrowing from multilateral and bilateral sources, including on accelerated
emergency terms; reallocation of funds under ongoing donor-supported projects and programs;
and, through additional financing arrangements.
Recovery and Reconstruction Program
This PDNA presents a set of post-disaster activities―the recovery and reconstruction
program―to be undertaken to achieve two main goals:
 Recovery of socio-economic activities at the personal/household levels
 Reconstruction of destroyed or damaged physical assets
Financial needs for the recovery and reconstruction program have been estimated based on the
damage and loss assessment caused by the floods. These needs are expressed in a disaggregated
manner taking into consideration breakdowns by sector of economic activity and ownership by
the public or private sectors. To ensure full recovery from the negative impact of the disaster,
program interventions and their corresponding financial needs are presented. Financial needs for
reconstruction are defined on the basis of the estimated value of damage while adopting a
strategy that seeks to introduce disaster-resilient standards, depending on availability of funding.
A “building-back-better” strategy requires relocation of selected activities to safer areas,
reasonably improved design and construction standards, adequate flood-control measures and
schemes. The recovery and reconstruction program operationalizes the framework. More than
one-third (36.4 percent) of the total recovery and reconstruction program is for the housing
sector, reflecting the urgent need to house the displaced families before the onset of winter. This
is followed by support for in flood management (primarily a public sector undertaking),
agriculture, and transport infrastructure, (public sector), and agriculture (a mix of public and
private sector). Funding for close to 43 percent of the overall recovery and reconstruction
program would need to be mobilized for the activities to be carried out during the period up to
December 2010.
The PDNA has also highlighted the need to develop medium- to longer-term solutions to address
priority policy issues. Development solutions for two of the major policy issues highlighted in
the PDNA― flood control, and disaster risk reduction―require concerted efforts over many
years, well beyond the period covered by the PDNA. While the program in the attached table
focuses on short- to medium-term actions, long-term needs are discussed in the annexes.
Post-Disaster Needs Assessment: Summary of Short-term and Medium-term Needs
30
(MDL million)
Flood control and dam management
Construction Works
Pumping of Water
Consulting Services
Goods
Subtotal(MDL million)
Subtotal(USD million)
Housing
Provision of appropriate temporary shelter to exposed people
Construction of new houses
Subtotal(MDL million)
Subtotal(USD million)
Energy
Providing basic infrastructure for Cotul Morii
Subtotal(MDL million)
Subtotal(USD million)
Transport
National roads
Local roads
Village streets
Prut-2-Cahul section (railroad)
Subtotal(MDL million)
Subtotal(USD million)
Water and Sanitation
Cleaning and disinfecting water sources
Rebuilding and restoring shallow wells
Rebuilding and repairing deep wells
Construction of water supply system for the new site.
Construction of sewerage system and waste water treatment
facility for the new site
Rebuilding damaged private toilets (improved toilet facilities)
for dwellings in affected communities
Subtotal(MDL million)
Subtotal(USD million)
Agriculture
Crops
Land Rehab
Livestock
Irrigation/Drainage
Subtotal(MDL million)
Short-term
MediumNeeds (until term Needs
December 31, (until
June
2010)
30, 2010)
10.09
0.73
101.50
56.40
1.67
12.49
0.97
157.90
12.32
2.80
216.20
219.00
17.08
156.50
156.50
12.21
6.56
6.56
0.51
8.92
6.90
2.40
18.22
1.42
8.92
1.29
35.91
46.13
3.60
0.66
0.60
3.48
8.00
4.00
2.00
6.74
0.53
10.62
19.06
21.85
6.97
58.50
12.00
0.94
52.63
19.82
14.65
87.10
31
Subtotal(USD million)
Livelihoods
Policy review, coordination and strategy development
Capacity building
Humanitarian and financial support and income generating
activities
Subtotal(MDL million)
Subtotal(USD million)
Social
Education
Health
Social Protection
Subtotal(MDL million)
Subtotal(USD million)
Environment
Field survey for assessing the status of forest resources, prepare
and implement a recovery action plan
Assess the impact of flooding on fish resources, prepare and
implement a recovery action plan
Assessment of the floodplain protected areas and incorporate
environmental protection requirements into recovery plans,
including capacity building activities
Subtotal(MDL million)
Subtotal(USD million)
Disaster Risk Management
Hydrometeorological forecasting, data sharing and early
Coordination of disaster mitigation, preparedness and response
Financing disaster losses, reconstruction, recovery & risk transfer
Subtotal(MDL million)
Subtotal(USD million)
TOTAL (in MDL million)
TOTAL (in USD million)
4.56
6.79
1.93
11.80
7.00
8.93
0.70
4.70
16.50
1.29
26.32
21.98
11.31
59.61
4.65
12.60
8.66
2.67
23.93
1.87
0.07
12.74
0.07
2.75
0.07
0.20
0.02
15.49
1.21
0.38
3.00
0.00
3.38
0.26
1.28
50.00
1.20
52.48
4.09
393.62
568.03
961.65
44.30
75.01
30.70
Note: Financial needs are addressed in this table; other activities that do not have a financial
implication are in the annexes.
The Way Forward
The recovery and reconstruction program proposed by the PDNA does not constitute a full plan.
That would require further analytical work and programme preparation work to refine sectoral
needs and priorities, elaborate implementation arrangements and complete and refine estimates
of costs. Part of such a plan would also include identification of already programmed activities
32
that would contribute to the programme presented here. In this section, the PDNA team would
like to share with the Government some broad principles that can guide implementation of any
plan that may emerge as a result of this exercise. In addition, the PDNA team will make some
recommendations on implementation arrangements, including for monitoring and oversight of
future works. The suggestions presented below draw on lessons learned from recovery and
reconstruction programs in other countries.
Principles and Arrangements for Implementation
A set of guiding principles could govern implementation of the recovery and reconstruction
program. The purpose of these principles is to enhance the effectiveness of recovery and
reconstruction efforts, increase transparency and accountability, and ensure that resources are
translated into results on the ground. The principles seek to guide a reconstruction program that
will build back stronger and more resilient communities.
A transparent recovery and reconstruction program
It is important that there be clear communication with flood victims regarding the recovery and
reconstruction program. For example, tt is clear to the PDNA team that the flood victims are
aware of the fact that the Government will re-house them but the lack of information on how,
when, etc. is creating stress and anxiety. Since district-level offices also seem to lack the
necessary information, the affected communities are experiencing an information gap. The
Government should initiate a proactive, regular information provision service across all the
affected area in relation to housing, as well as all other aspects of coping with the disaster such
as financial awards, compensation for lost housing and crops, etc.
People-centered, and equitable approaches
Community-based, participatory approaches that engage local communities in decision-making,
implementation, and monitoring of activities could be adopted to increase the quality and speed
of reconstruction, align projects with real needs, and lower the risk of misuse of funds. The
Government intends to resettle people, such as in Cotul Morii, to higher ground to avoid further
risk of flood. Land purchase, preparation, construction, etc. takes some time and it is normally
combined with a structured process of consultation and information provision. The Government
needs to consider developing a strategy for the relocation process; a top-down approach could
prove counterproductive. Although disasters increase the vulnerability of all, groups who are
already disadvantaged may need special assistance and protection. Particular priority could be
given to the poor, marginalized female-headed households, children, orphans, elderly, and people
with disabilities.
Reduction of future risks
With floods and other disasters being a regular occurrence in Moldova, a disaster risk
management strategy that take into consideration all likely significant hazards is needed to
reduce the impact of future disasters. Such a strategy could include not only hard investments
associated with flood management or early warning forecasting but also legal, policy and
institutional measures that can be implemented over time to develop disaster resilient
communities in the country. Any such strategy should also review the options for transferring
the financial risks associated with natural disasters, reconsideration of spatial planning and urban
33
development strategies to reduce the risk of further human loss and physical damage in the
future.
Coordination and Monitoring
In advance of the work to be conducted by the Lazar Commission, the Government will need to
take effective measures to implement the short-term recover program and also lay the foundation
of the medium-term recovery and reconstruction program. To ensure there is effective delivery
of the different activities of the recovery and reconstruction program, it would be useful for the
Government to evolve a mechanism for coordinating the work of the various ministries and
agencies that will participate in this program. Furthermore, it will be important to closely
monitor the implementation of the program. This is important for both accountability as well as
timely delivery of essential services to the affected population, especially with winter on the
horizon.
34
Section V. Reducing Risks
Moldova’s is highly vulnerable to natural disasters caused by hydrometeorological phenomena
(hail storms, early frost onset, droughts and floods) landslides12 and seismic hazards
(earthquakes). This vulnerability is due to a combination of geographical factors and
inappropriate land use practice. The impact of natural hazards on Moldova's poor rural
populations is particularly severe, because of the currently high levels of poverty, the
susceptibility of its agriculture, as well as the inadequacy of disaster response and hazard
mitigation measures. Climate change is responsible for repeated severe weather patterns.
Consequently, adaptation to short-term climate variability and extreme events is a basis for
reducing vulnerability to long term climate change.
Recently, the country was affected by intense and destructive floods both in 2008 and 2010,
resulting in a economic shock due to damage and losses observed in various sectors particularly
agriculture and infrastructure. The 2007 drought caused estimated losses of about US$1.0 billion;
the 2008 floods cost the country about US$120 million. The damages from natural hazards in
Moldova estimated at US$ 105.9 million per year. 13
An important underlying hazard is the waterlogging (saturation of the soil by groundwater
sufficient to prevent or hinder agriculture) of urban or rural floodplain areas occurs at locations
where the floodplains lie behind river embankments or dykes and where land drainage
installations are deficient.14 Subsurface flooding is estimated to be a risk to 80% of the country’s
1,532 settlements and 125,000 buildings. A multiple freeze-thaw event in 1998/99 is reported to
have caused damages totaling about 5.5 million USD, most of which from landslides events.
Reliable estimates of annual average damages from subsurface flooding have not been located.
The 2010 floods are being currently assessed by the government in partnership with UN agencies
under the Post Disaster Assessment (PDNA) methodology. Preliminary qualitative data indicates
that damage and losses on the housing and land use and agriculture subsectors caused by
water/floods hazards could be substantially reduced if risk reduction structural measures were
applied in advance to the flood season, to secure the safety of the existing aging flood control
system.
12
In Moldova, 43.7% of settlements are threatened by landslides, and they are increasing every year. Landslides are
mainly linked to subsidence from large construction works and widespread deforestation, rather than heavy rainfall
events. They are relatively slow-moving and not a major contributor to morbidity or mortality. Most damages are
related to local displacement, which may result from damage to buildings and other assets, and loss of cropland.
Average annual losses from them amount to $1.3 million (V.A. Osinok, A.P. Sudarev, and E.N. Sheremet
(Gosudarstvenoe Agentsvo
po Geologii Respubliki Moldova “AGeoM”), 2006, Monitoring opasnykh
geologicheskikh protsessov na territorii Moldovy)
13
A Hazardous Existence- MNLT in Rural Moldova, The World Bank Report, 5 FEB 2007,
Adapted from World Bank (WB) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 2006). A
Hazardous Existence: Managing Natural Livelihood Threats in Rural Moldova. Chisinau, June 2006.
14
35
Archival analysis indicated that during 1984-06, Moldova’s average annual economic losses due
to natural disasters were about US$61 million, or 2.13 percent of national GDP.15 Historic
records reveal earthquake damage, for example, in 1940, Chisinau experienced a magnitude 7.3
earthquake (out of maximum of M=9) while the 1986 Vrancea earthquake, caused estimated
losses equivalent to US$500 million.16 In 2009, estimated per capita Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) was US$1,514, making it the poorest country in Europe. The UNDP Human
Development Report 2006 ranks Moldova 114 out of 177 countries with a human development
index (HDI) score of 0.694, lower than the regional average for CIS and Eastern Europe. The
most vulnerable economic sector is agriculture. The agricultural and agro-processing sectors
account for about 34% of the country’s GDP. These sectors generate about 60% of export
earnings, and provide employment for roughly 43% of the labour force. Thus, recovery from
these disaster shocks is increasingly difficult considering that the economy is in recession and the
global financial crisis has undermined every main source of earlier economic growth:
remittances, private consumption, exports, and private investment. Clearly, reducing Moldova’s
vulnerability to extreme weather events and natural hazards, and mitigating subsequent losses
due to disasters, are a priority for the country economic development.
Institutional Framework for Disaster Risk Management (DRM)
The legal and institutional framework for DRM is mostly oriented toward emergency response,
rather than preventing risks and hazards. Institutions in natural hazard mitigation in Moldova can
be roughly divided into coordinating emergency commissions, early warning and prognosis
bodies, line ministries, and disaster management bodies. None receive adequate budgetary
allocations. Although an adequate legal and regulatory framework is in place, there is a need to
improve coordination and contingency planning. Institutions in natural hazard mitigation in
Moldova can be roughly divided into coordinating emergency commissions, early warning and
prognosis bodies, line ministries, and disaster management bodies. None receive adequate
budgetary allocations. Although an adequate legal and regulatory framework is in place,
improve coordination and contingency planning are key issues to be addressed. Capacity
building is necessary at every level of the disaster management structure. The national disaster
management system in Moldova is regulated by the Law on Civil Protection and the Law on
Defence against Fires and includes the Civil Protection and Emergency Situations Service of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova as the main implementing institution.
The Government Commission for Emergency Situations (defined under the Law on Civil
Protection, No. 271 of 9 November 1994) functions as a national multisectoral body responsible
for policy development and planning for crisis preparedness, mitigation and response. Disaster
prevention, response, relief and recovery are key functions within the mandate of the State
Department of Exceptional Situations (DES), which has been part of the Ministry of Internal
Affairs since 2004. In 2001, Moldova created the Republican Commission for Emergency
Situations as the main entity to manage major emergencies. Its Head is the Prime Minister; the
Deputy Head is the Director of the State Department of Exceptional Situations (DES). The
Commission meets semi-annually and includes representatives of all line ministries and
executive branches. District and local emergency commissions have a similar structure and
15
Mitigating the Adverse Financial Effects of Natural Hazards on the Economies of South Eastern Europe: A Study
of Disaster Risk Financing Options (South Eastern Europe Disaster Risk Mitigation and Adaptation Programme).
16
Using the prevailing exchange rate: US$1=0.8 ruble). Source: Institute of Geology and Seismology of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova and
a joint damage assessment by the International Red Cross and the Department of Exceptional Situations (DES).
36
include heads of local governments and relevant public services. During emergencies, members
are notified immediately and meet to evaluate the level of threat to the population, the economy,
and infrastructure, and to agree on the response. The emergency commissions and DES create
five-year preparedness and response plans, and hold regular meetings to discuss, update, and
ratify them. District and local-level emergency plans are updated annually, similarly to sector
plans, for example, for flood protection. DES-coordinated emergency response exercises are
carried out on average every five years. Moldova signed several agreements with countries in the
region, such as Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and is a member of organizations responsible for crossborder emergencies international cooperation, such as the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)
and Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Initiative (DPPI) for the South Eastern Europe. The
State Hydrometeorological Service (SHS) is active in many sectors including (i) weather
forecasting and host of the national meteorological observation network; (ii) meteorological
research and development (R&D); (iii) hydrological forecasting and host of the national
hydrological observation network; hydrological R&D; (v) air quality measurements and services;
(vi) water quality measurements and services; and (vii) commercial services. The Apele
Moldovei Agency manages the flood control system, which is comprised of a total length of 960
km, of which 720 km are under the agency. Most of the dams/dykes were deteriorated by floods
and outflows throughout the operation period. These key risk management issues, related to dam
safety and vulnerability of exposed population and assets, have been discussed in the
Infrastructure section.
Needs Assessment for Disaster Risk Management
The South Eastern Europe Disaster Risk Mitigation and Adaptation Programme (SEEDRMAP),
based on the priorities for action of the Hyogo Framework of Action, specifies three focus areas:
(i) hydrometeorological forecasting, data sharing and early warning; (ii) coordination of disaster
mitigation, preparedness and response; and (iii) financing disaster losses, reconstruction and
recovery, and of risk transfer (disaster insurance). This report will follow the above 3 focus
areas. The PDNA assessment indicate that all 3 areas have unmet needs, some areas more than
others. Consultations were undertaken by the PDNA/DRR team with national and local
authorities and selected groups of affected population. Desk review on available documentation
was also analyzed. Civil protection in Moldova is viewed in terms of protection and rescue and
its provision is governed by legislation and decrees17. Overall, disaster risk management is
practiced under a reactive approach; there is a focus on emergency response towards a hazard,
and not on reducing the hazard risk and vulnerability of the exposed population. Proactive
approaches of risk management, emphasizing preparedness, and the use of risk reduction
principles has been perceived as low priority by government authorities, in terms of applicability
at national and local level. A draft of a National Strategy for Natural Hazard Mitigation, 20082015, which had an implicit climate risk management focus, was developed under the support of
the World Bank, however it was not approved due to budget constraints for finalization an and
implementation. Coordination bodies (such as the National Commission of Emergency
Situations) are ad hoc in nature, and, although there is a coherent institutional architecture for
preparedness and response, linkages among the relevant institutions for risk assessment are not
cohesive. Key principles of risk management are not mainstreamed into policies and legislations
17
South Eastern Europe Disaster Risk Mitigation and Adaptation Programme (2008). The structure, role and mandate of civil
protection in disaster risk reduction for South Eastern Europe. ISDR, WB and OCHA.
37
aimed to integrating prevention and mitigation actions into development planning. There is a
lack of capacity at the local level among district emergency commissions, local public
administrations, civil society organizations, and communities for preparedness and response, as
well as planning for and undertaking prevention and mitigation actions. Space technology and
use of real time satellite images is not at all utilized to guide spatial analysis and decision
making, or it is underutilized. The images provided to the PDNA teams, were from
UNOSAT/UNITAR through the European Commission Services and Applications for
Emergency Response. Below are identified needs by areas:
(I)
Hydrometeorological forecasting, data sharing and early warning. The State
Hydrometeorological Service (SHS) meteorological and hydrological data network is in
need of upgrading and automation. Replacing defective equipment and automating old
manual gauges will build a foundation needed for improved weather forecasting, i.e., for
short-term forecasting as well as a data system need for long-term climate forecasting.
The network of existing weather stations will need to be either replaced or damaged
sensors and instruments replaced. A World Bank-financed project will support some of
the needs related to capital investments required by the SHS. However, to promote
service delivery with the objective of meeting the needs of different sectors of the
Moldovan economy, the SHS could benefit from sustained technical assistance and
training activities. There are several unmet needs on the strengthening of the EWS, like
satellite images in real time for improved regional forecasting for severe weather and, at
national and local level, appropriate dissemination of information user friendly and
adapted to local culture.
(II)
Coordination of disaster mitigation (including institutional capacity), preparedness
and response. The following categories with overall needs, were identified:
Coordination of Disaster Mitigation
It is critical to clarify and strengthening institutional mechanisms for coordinating disaster risk
reduction, response and recovery in the country. There are a number of ministries and
government agencies responsible by different parts of the overall DRM procedures and
operations in the country. Promote dialogue on disaster issues and how to respond better, needs
to be organized and contingency plans established before the disaster strikes. A national
platform18 of disaster risk management is suggested to shift focus from emergency management
to risk reduction, related to all-hazards. At national level, responsible for the flow of information
from central government to the rayons and communities, there is lack of overall information
exchange and knowledge transfer among disaster-related agencies in non-disaster times, as part
of continuous disaster preparedness (State Department of Exceptional Situations, SDES).
Strengthen Institutional and Organizational Capacity
- Establishment of a national platform in DRM
18
ISDR definition: a National Platform for DRR can be defined as a nationally owned and led forum or committee of multi-stakeholders. It
serves as an advocate of DRR at different levels and provides coordination, analysis and advice on areas of priority requiring concerted action
through a coordinated and participatory process. A National Platform for DRR should be the coordination mechanism for mainstreaming DRR
into development policies, planning and programmes in line with the implementation of the HFA. It should aim to contribute to the establishment
and the development of a comprehensive national DRR system, as appropriate to each country.
38
-
Review Government review of policy, procedures towards the establishment of an
institutional and regulatory framework for disaster risk reduction
Development of a national disaster risk reduction strategy
Improve institutional capacities for enforcement of approved legislations and standards
Update flood emergencies procedures of the monitoring system of flood control system,
and provision of equipment for emergency responders of Apelei Moldova and SDES
agencies
Mitigation and Preparedness
Local level risk management LLRM. LLRM is a process that includes locations beyond the
boundaries of a municipality or community. Activities developed are defined in space by similar
natural and physical environment, similar hazard and risk exposure or common experience of
disasters and common concerns in recovery from the hazard. The flood hazard determines the
approach used as opposed to Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM). Local
knowledge about vulnerabilities, hazards, and traditional coping capacities is needed to assess
the actual disaster risk and identify feasible interventions for prevention, mitigation,
preparedness, and recovery. At community level, information of what to do before the flood
season, during and after needs to be transferred and disseminated using various media types with
information about flood effects, prevention and protection measures undertaken at both
individual or community level. Introduction of floods preparedness in local schools is critical and
it is a cross cutting issue with Education. Moreover, there is a need to promote regional / interdistrict exchanges in flood control techniques in order to draw upon the large body of knowledge
and experience of the last decade in post-disaster recovery and development, this will facilitate
learning among key stakeholders at local level. The LLRM is planned to be implemented in 25
communities located in high risk areas of flooding.
There is also a need of quantification of accumulated damage and losses of middle scale
disasters. National statistics records the socio-economic impact of large scale disasters. For
example, the devastating drought of 2000 was not captured in the national statistics. SDES data
underestimates the extent and severity of the impact of the natural hazards on the rural
communities; and also the combined effects of several middle size disasters on the population. A
disaster database (e.g., UNDP DesInventar) could be a major tool to register middle size
disasters and its economic consequences.
-
Strengthen operational competence and update knowledge and equipment of existing
local level DRM committees
Implement community base DRM planning, information management and local risk
assessment for better flood response
Introduce DRM advocacy and awareness materials in schools
Land use planning for disaster preparedness. There is an absence of land use planning to
take into account vulnerability to natural disasters. Furthermore, there is a lack of public
awareness on construction of buildings at a reduced risk of flooding. The floods of 1994
were very destructive and these negative experiences may not have been incorporated as
lessons learned in risk reduction measures. There is also limited awareness about good
39
practices in construction of flood proof buildings from other regions and/or countries, which
could be incorporated into building standards in Moldova.
-
Formulation of integrated spatial plan in disaster vulnerable districts (e.g. Hincesti and
Cantemir) based on hazard mapping and vulnerability assessment;
Integration of hazard mapping on various natural disasters including flood, landslide,
erosion and earthquake;
Identification of areas/communities that are vulnerable to natural disasters and integrating
the findings into spatial planning to mitigate risks of natural disasters;
Promote capacity building and public awareness on disaster risk reduction through public
consultation and sensitization (cross-cut with LLRM);
Development of flood-proof construction guideline based on Moldovan context (living
standards, income, etc.)
(III)
Financing disaster losses, reconstruction and recovery, and of risk transfer
Risk Transfer
The growing frequency and severity of weather-related events is likely to translate into increased
financial vulnerability for many households in South Eastern Europe (SEE) countries, including
Moldova. It is already clear that due to weather extremes, households are likely to experience
more frequent and potentially severe damages to housing sub-sector as well as loss of
employment income due to business interruption. Given the current very low level of disaster
insurance penetration in SEE countries (of the order of 1-3 per cent), natural hazards are likely to
take a considerable additional financial toll on the population of the region. The most vulnerable
to the rural poor to these disaster shocks.19
The insurance sector in Moldova is growing slowly, if compared with Western European
countries. In 2008, the 33 registered insurance companies generated gross written premiuns of
54.4 millions EUR20 increasing 24.5% compared to 2007. Because of a low participation rate of
the population in the insurance market, the public sector is the provider of ex post risk transfer
that provides financial means to affected population by hydrometeorological hazards, (ibid 9).
Risk transfer is the shift of the burden of disaster damage and losses to another party, for
example the insurance companies. Risk transfer is one important element of disaster
management; however the Moldovan mechanism currently in place to transfer the risk of natural
hazards is very limited. Problems are focused on the public sector inability to finance disaster
losses and the private insurance industry which is the basis of risk transfer; it does not work well
for natural disasters. Most of the damage created by natural disasters rests on individuals.
Physical and indirect losses resulting from earthquakes are partially compensated by government
withdrawing from exceptional funds (ibid 8). The national disaster fund in the country is
19
Gurenko, Eugene N. and Zakout, Wael (2008). Mitigating the Adverse Financial Effects of Natural Hazards on the Economies
of South Eastern Europe: A Study of Disaster Risk Financing Options South Eastern Europe Disaster Risk Mitigation and
Adaptation Programme. World Bank and ISDR.
20
cited in page 128, UNDP 2009/2010 National Human Development Report.
40
represented by the Moldova Reserve fund and Agencies’ reserve funds with the amount of 2.3
million USD with and annual appropriation of annual budgetary replenishments in addition to
accessing a local disaster funding of 2% of local budgets(ibid, 9).
The latest Agricultural Strategy for Moldova21 envisages a special mechanism for dealing with
the risks involved in the agricultural sector. This mechanism consists of a Natural Disaster
Intervention Fund which would allow for partial compensation for the loss owing to “natural
disasters”, both climate-induced (droughts, hail, frost etc.) and for market-driven ones (sudden
increase in the price of gas, diesel fuel, lubricants etc.). The insurance sector in Moldova is
poorly developed, especially in rural areas, and there is a lack of insurance awareness amongst
farmers. Moldasig is the only insurance company involved in crop insurance and only since
2006. Financial capacity to manage major national systemic risks, such as drought, is beyond the
capacity of the insurance sector in Moldova and would be dependent on international
reinsurance. Such reinsurance is unlikely to be available to support a traditional individualfarmer multi-peril crop insurance program (MPCI), and is more likely to be feasible for an index
program and for conventional crop hail insurance22.
In Moldova, there is no risk assessment, nor quantified data (e.g., frequency of heavy rain and/or
hail aligned with standardized protocols) and adequate parameters on the basis reliable
calculations of cost of a potential insurance by different type of hazards resulting in disasters.
-
Risk zoning and risk maps as the basis for a effective risk transfer
Develop, as part of the national disaster risk management strategy, an integrated disaster
risk management function at the national level that comprises disaster risk reduction and
risk financing
Post-Disaster Needs Assessment: Summary of Shortterm and Medium-term Needs
Short-term Needs Medium-term
(until December Needs (until June
31, 2010)
30, 2010)
(MDL)
Disaster Risk Reduction
Hydrometeorological forecasting, data sharing and early
warning
384,600.00
Coordination of disaster mitigation, preparedness and
response
3,000,000.00
Financing disaster losses, reconstruction, recovery &
risk transfer
3,384,600.00
1,282,000.00
50,000,000.00
1,200,000.00
52,482,000.00
21
Development of Agriculture and Food Sector Strategy, 2006-2015, Government of Moldova, March 2006 (Draft),
page 19.
22
Adapted from: (World Bank, 2007). A Hazardous Existence: Managing Natural Livelihood Threats in Rural Moldova. Chisinau
41
ORDER OF ANNEXES
1. Flood Control and Dam Management
2. Housing and Land Use
3. Energy
4. Transport
5. Water Supply and Sanitation
6. Agriculture
7. Livelihoods and Small Trading
8. Education
9. Health
10. Social Protection
11. Environment
1
Annex 1: Flood Control and Dam Management
Background
The country has a flood protection system inherited from Soviet times. The total length of antiflood protection dams and dykes is 960 km, of which 720 km are under the management of the
“Apele Moldovei” Agency. These dams/dykes protected 90 localities and approximately 87,000
hectares of agriculture lands. The anti-flood system is comprised of protection dykes and dams.
There are 126 dams with storage volume of more than one million cubic meters (See Annex 1)
and 3,000 dams with storage volume less than one million cubic meters for water impoundment.
Thirty eight dams out of 126, are dams managed by the “Apele Moldovei” Agency, for operation
and maintenance. These dams are used for flood control, irrigation, recreation, energy or
multipurpose tasks. Therefore, the social and economic function of these dams is very important.
The protective dams and dykes were constructed 40-50 years ago and have been subjected to
weather and water erosion. During these floods, for a period of 3 months, intense water flow and
velocity has weakened these structures, strongly increasing the risk of dam failure. Further, the
settlements located below the floodplains of the river Prut were extremely vulnerable to floods,
because of low topography. In the flooded zone of the administrative districts Hincesti and
Cantemir, the flood waters are low; however, there is a risk of flooding for the villages and
agricultural lands downstream (e.g., Leova and Cahul districts).
The main cause of the failures of the dams, is the volume of rain that felt and the intensity of the
rainfall. The period of these high waters in 2010 has lasted from the middle of May until the
middle of August. By the middle of July, 5 peaks of high water occurred resulting in floods. The
total volume of the flood water was 2 km3, which is equal to the volume of the Prut river’s
annual inflow. Currently, the sixth wave of high water is taking place, further deteriorating the
flood control structures.
Impact of the flood on the Sector
a. Summary description
Extreme rainfall upstream of the Prut river caused several breakups of the embankments in the
following villages23: Nemteni (Hincesti district), Stoianovca, Antonesti, Gotesti (Cantemir
district), with high losses in assets and livelihood. Protection dykes / dams which constitutes a
major threat as they can break up and flood further areas in Tiganca (r. Saca) village in Cantemir
district and the Chircani and Zirnesti villages (Cahui district).
The dyke in Cantemir breached and requires urgent repairs, otherwise 5 additional villages are
put at risk, affecting 9448 people and 2276 houses flooded; 22,000 hectares of agriculture fields
would be lost. Emergency measures include discharging the water from the flooded valleys
through artificial breaches of the dykes allowing flood water flow back to the Prut river in
23
Adapted from World Bank (WB) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2006). A Hazardous
Existence: Managing Natural Livelihood Threats I Rural Moldova. Chisinau, June 2006.
2
Cantemir and Hincesti districts. After flood waters recede, the dykes will be rehabilitated.
Overall, there is critical lack of an effective monitoring system with a need to update procedures
and provisions of equipment (Annex 2 for a complete list of equipment).
b. Damage and Losses
On the dyke Leuseni, Cotul Morii, Nemteni, (district Hincesti), a section of approximately
40m length is breached on Distance Mark (DM) 20+70 (from the start of the dyke) and 120m of
artificial breach, was done 4.3 km (DM 43+00). On the Polder N I, (district Cantemir) 15m
length of a section is breached on 8.1 km (DM 81+00). On the Polder N III (district Cantemir)
approximately 35m length section is also breached (DM and 120m artificial breach was done on
DM 46+00). On the Polder N III (near village Tiganca, district Cantemir) 30m length dyke
section was settled and need to be rehabilitated.
Table 1 Overall Summary of Damage and Losses (Lei and USD millions)
Disaster Effects, million Lei
Damage
Embankments
and
Water
Control
Structures
Dyke Leuseni, Cotul Morii Nemteni, 0.019
(district Hincesti) – 160m
Polder N I, (district Cantemir) –15m
0.002
Losses
Total
-
0.019
-
0.002
Polder N III, (district Cantemir) – 185m
0.022
-
0.022
Total
0.043
-
0.043
Needs Assessment
Short term
1. Pump the water from flooded irrigation and drainage stations: Ungheni district (3
pumping stations), Hincesti district - 1, Leova - 1, Cantemir - 3 (with further repair or
replacement of the equipment);
2. Pump the water from flooded regions on Prut river (flood plain from Nemteni-Cotul
Morii village, dyked polders I and III, with 6,500 ha in total area);
3. Reconstruct the holes in the protective dams in Hincesti and Cantemir districts with 120m
total length and artificial breaks of walls (270m);
4. Uproot shrubs and trees in the state flood-control dams;
5. Develop working drawings for repair of dangerous areas on the protective dams;
6. Develop technical and economic studies of the flooded and potentially flooded areas
along Nistru and Prut rivers, with construction of temporarily flooded areas and/or sites
of wetlands, as well as a study of the condition of waterworks (barrages and dams) along
small rivers, and ameliorative and drainage works;
3
7. Develop an action plan, including actions relating to construction, reconstruction and
consolidation of the flood-control dams systems, construction and reconstruction of
pumping and drainage stations;
8. Develop an integrated flood management system aligning with the existing ones
according to Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) of the European Union Directive
2007/60/EC.
9. Asses current policy and legislation and bring up to international standards;
10. Set up a state protective dams monitoring service in the relevant organizations
(technological irrigation stations);
11. Resource mobilization.
Non-structural measures (consulting services) as itemized as number 5-11 below, will be
financed by the Government of the Republic of Moldova.
Medium term
1. Finalize the development of the National Strategy on the Development and Management
of Water Resources and Protection against Floods;
2. Develop the technical-economic calculation, “Protective actions on Nistru and Prut
rivers, taking into account the floods after the setting into operation of Nistru and
Costesti Stanca hydro power station,” with compulsorily formulation of free surface
curves for Nistru and Prut rivers;
3. Correct the current exploitation rules at Dnestrovsk Hydro Power Complex and CostestiStinca taking into account the 2008 and 2010 floods;
4. Study the Costesti-Stinca Hydro Power Complex and improve safety and security.
The protection measures in the low lands of Prut, Nistru, and other rivers are implemented by
state protective walls (protecting dams) that protect the farmland, farm buildings, and localities
against being inundated by the transit floods
5. Gradual investigations of 126 water reservoirs on internal rivers with the useful volume
of water being over 1 million m3. At the first stage, 10 water reservoirs that can
potentially flood the localities and do not have the needed technical documentation will
be studied;
6. Create the register of protective hydro-technical constructions and implement a system of
Hydraulic structures, requiring that the owner submit a statement on the safety of
protective construction.
Long term
1. Develop a National Strategy on the Development and Management of Water Recourses
and Protection Against Floods;
2. Develop GIS-based digital flood risk maps on the river basins;
3. Develop and approve integrated flood risk management plans;
4. Develop integrated water resources management plans involving regional cooperation
for: the Prut river basin (with Ukraine and Romania) and for Nistru river basin (with
Ukraine).
5. Design and rehabilitation of Ghidighici dam.
The cost of implementing the planned actions for long term from the items 1-4 above will be
determined when implementing the medium term activities.
4
Table 2. Summary of Needs (Millions Lеi)
Short Term
Embankments and Water Control
Structures
Leuseni, Cotul Morii Nemteni,
2.0
district Hincesti* (river Prut), 160m
Dancu-Leuseni district Hincesti (river
Prut)
Cioara –Dancu
district Hincesti (river Prut)
Cioara -Poganesti, district Hincesti
(river Prut)
Poganesti, district Hincesti (river Prut)
Sarata Razesti,
district Leova (river Prut)
Tochile Raducani,
district Leova (river Prut)
Matasari,
district Leova (river Prut)
Town Leova, district Leova (river
Prut)
Antonesti,
District Cantemir (river Prut)
Polder # I,
0.19
District Cantemir* (river Prut), 15m
Polder #II,
District Cantemir (river Prut)
Polder # III
2.31
District Cantemir* (river Prut)
Polder # IV
District Cahul (river Prut)
Polder # V
District Cahul (river Prut)
Gura Bikului (river Nistru)
Medium
Term
6.80
Total
8.80
3.30
3.3
3.60
3.6
5.3
5.3
1.2
1.2
3.60
3.60
3.30
3.30
1.20
1.20
1.20
1.20
Not defined
6.51
6.7
21.20
21.2
33.79
36.1
38.20
38.2
39.80
0.126
Sherpen-Spea (river Nistru)
39.80
0.126
Not
defined
Not
defined
Pukhchen-Sherpen (river Nistru)
Dubessari Vec (river Nistru)
Long
Term
6.793
6.793
5
Short Term
Medium
Term
Long
Term
Total
1.668
1.668
Pokhrebya (river Nistru)
0.108
0.108
Coshnica-Pirita (river Nistru)
0.528
0.528
Dorockaq (river Nistru)
0.616
0.616
Benderi-Kickan (river Nistru)
7.011
7.011
Kickan (river Nistru)
2.680
2.680
Corjeva (river Nistru)
Kriulen (river Nistru)
Ustia (river Nistru)
Dubessar-lunga-Jerginsk (river Nistru)
Kopanka (river Nistru)
1.578
1.578
Talmaza-Choburcuiu (river Nistru)
8.650
8.650
Reskec-Purkar-Olenesht (river Nistru)
12.870
12.870
Olenesht-kromkaz (river Nistru)
13.849
13.849
Tudora-Palanka (river Nistru)
29.215
29.215
Pump the water from flooded
irrigation and drainage stations
Pump the water from flooded regions
on Prut river
Reconstruct the holes in the protective
dams (390m)
Uproot shrubs and trees in the state
flood-control dams
Finalize the development of the
National Strategy
Develop
the
technical-economic
calculation
Correct the current exploitation rules
at Dnestrovsk Hydro Power Complex
and Costesti-Stinca
0.36
0.36
0.37
0.37
0.390
0.390
5.20
5.20
1.70
1.70
3.00
3.00
0.60
0.60
6
Short Term
Study the Costesti-Stinca Hydro
Power Complex and improve the
safety
Create the register of protective hydrotechnical constructions
Design
and
rehabilitation
of
Ghidighici Dam (Safety assessment of
the dam see in Annex 3)
Investigations of 10 dams (list of dams
in Annex 3)
Technical equipment
1.666
Total
12.486
Medium
Term
50.00
Long
Term
Total
50.00
0.10
0.10
9.50
1.00
9.50
1.00
1.666
157.897
162.695
333.078
7
Annex 2: Housing and Land Use
Background (Situation before the flood)
Before the flood, lands in the affected areas were classified as agricultural and residential. These
areas are located in the lower level of the basin alongside the Prut River. Therefore lands are
very fertile and suitable to agriculture. At the same time, because of this topography, and also
because these areas are located in the seismic zone, these areas are highly vulnerable to natural
disasters such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes.
In the affected villages, housing and land are privately owned. Most housing units are single
story and are built using materials such as mud, wood, brick, adobe and/or stone. Water supply
and sewerage facilities do not exist; 5 to 10 households share a common well to access water.
Electricity networks are available, but most roads are not paved.
While these areas are highly vulnerable to natural disasters, no measures were taken to mitigate
disaster risks. For example, Cotul Morii, one of the villages affected by the flood, was severely
damaged by a flood in 1994 caused by heavy rain. At the time of the flood in 1994, 160 houses
were destroyed and 16 people died in the village. The government proposed relocating the
affected people to areas next to Sărăteni village, approximately five kilometres away from Cotul
Morii, across agricultural lands. However, this proposal was declined due to the unwillingness of
the people to relocate; damaged/destroyed houses were rebuilt in the same place in Cotul Morii
village.
Impact of the Flood on Housing and Land Use
a. Summary Description
Villages and agricultural lands located in the lower level of the basin along the Prut River were
affected by the flood, resulting in damage and destruction of agricultural land, housing,
infrastructure, household goods, and livestock. Among 11 villages located in the basin, Cotul
Morii village was the most severely damaged, and is planned to be relocated.
b. Damages and Losses
The impact of flood on housing is reported from Hînceşti District (villages of Nemţeni, Cotul
Morii, Obileni, and Sărăteni), Nisporeni District (villages of Grozeşti and Bărboieni), Cantemir
(Ghioltosu and Gotesti), and Ungheni District (villages of Ungheni, Constuleni, and Măcăreşti).
1,111 housing units were destroyed, 8 units housings partially damaged. 24 Household goods that
“Destroyed” refers to houses that have been identified as uninhabitable due to flood damage, including those that
were washed away. Partially damaged units are those which were partially flooded, but were still inhabitable.
24
8
are moveable were moved from houses as much as possible in the early stage of flooding,
although many household goods were still entirely or partially destroyed. Estimated damage for
the housing and land use sector amounts to approximately 84.0 million Lei.
1,241 households (3,117 people, including 592 children) evacuated from the affected villages. In
addition, 144 households (345 people) were evacuated from Briceni District (villages of
Drepcăuţi, Lipcani and Criva) and Cantemir District (villages of Stoianovca, Ghioltosu and
Goteşti) due to high risk of spread of floods.
In most villages, the majority of evacuated people are staying with their relatives within the same
village. However, in Cotul Morii village, where flood damage was the most severe,
approximately 355 out of 463 evacuated households are temporarily sheltered in public facilities
in Hînceşti town (approximately 35 kilometres away from Cotul Morii village) such as schools
and kindergartens, or in summerhouses in the countryside of Moldova and surrounding countries.
Remaining 108 households moved into vacant houses in Hînceşti town. Most of the people living
in Cotul Morii have their relatives within the same village, and since Cotul Morii village was
almost entirely submerged, entire families had to seek for alternative shelter.
Because all of Cotul Morii village and parts of other affected villages are exposed to high risk of
flood, approximately 100 hectares of lands have to be acquired in a safer area near these villages
to build 560 new houses. The new houses will be between 4-5 rooms made of limestone and
cellular concrete, with an average size of 22m2 per inhabitant, and three inhabitants per unit.25
Estimated losses for the housing and land use sector amount to approximately 304.6 million Lei.
The estimated economic losses take into account the cost of temporary shelters, cost of house
quality improvement and the cost of demolition of submerged and/or destroyed houses.
c. Summary: Damages and Losses Table
Effects of disasters
Ownership
Category
(Million Lei)
Damages
Losses
Total
Public
Private
Submerged/destroyed houses
77.5
-
77.5
0
77.5
Damaged houses
0.3
-
0.3
0
0.3
Household goods
6.2
-
6.2
0
6.2
However, in some partially damaged houses, the foundations were affected, which caused cracks in the wall and
would ultimately need to be rebuilt.
25
Averages provided by the Ministry of Construction and Territorial Development, based on data from the National
Statistical Bureau and 2004 Population Census.
9
House quality improvement
-
295.2
295.2
0
295.2
Demolition of submerged/destroyed
houses
6.6
6.6
0
6.6
Temporary shelter
-
2.8
2.8
2.8
0
Total
84.0
304.6
388.6
2.8
385.8
Human Recovery
a. Impact on Basic Needs and Services
The flood had significant impact on the lives of the exposed people, damaging and destroying
their houses and forcing them to be displaced. The majority of the displaced population (with the
exception of those in Cotul Morii) are staying with their relatives. While they have access to
basic services such as water, electricity, and sanitation, they are crowded into small spaces as
several households have to share a small house. In many instances, those who evacuated to their
relatives’ dwellings are able to stay within their villages; nonetheless, they do not have access to
their agricultural land, on which they rely to earn income. However, much of their agricultural
land is also partially or entirely submerged.
About 400 displaced people from Cotul Morii village are being temporarily sheltered in
gymnasium of schools and vacant houses in Hînceşti town, or in summerhouses in the
countryside. They do not have adequate access to basic sanitation and clean drinking water, and
are far from their agricultural land.
Those people who have been relocated have expressed willingness to return to their villages,
where they have their houses and agricultural lands. However, some areas—including Cotul
Morii—are not topographically and geologically suitable for people to return, taking into account
the high risk of natural disasters. During a town hall meeting organized by the government, in
conjunction with the PDNA exercise, an informal survey was conducted where the majority of
people being housed at the Technical College for Building Construction in Hînceşti reported that
they did not want to return to their previous villages. Even in other areas, reconstruction must
proceed using disaster-resistant construction techniques and building materials.
To ensure feasibility and sustainability of the recovery and reconstruction efforts, lands outside
of the flood and landslide zones must be acquired so that exposed people can relocate safely. On
the other hand, it may be desirable that lands near the original villages are acquired for
relocation, considering cultural connections of exposed people to their lands. Lessons should be
learned from the relocation plan in 1994, which was declined by the people of Cotul Morii due to
their unwillingness to relocate.
10
Another important issue that must be taken into account is land rights and poor cadastre records.
While 60% of Moldovan territories are officially registered, most of the villages affected by the
flood do not have up-to-date cadastral information. This poses serious challenges on recovery
and reconstruction of the housing and land use sector in two aspects. First, exposed people do not
have secure tenure due to incomplete cadastre records and are facing the risk that their land
rights will be threatened. Second, because ownership of real property in this area is not officially
recorded, the government has not been able to establish a clear policy and procedure of land
acquisition, which is required for relocation.
b. Capacities
To ensure that adequate shelter is provided until new housing in safe area is provided, the
government has developed several plans. These plans include offering vacant houses in Hînceşti
town, and promoting temporary relocation to the Moldovan countryside and surrounding
countries. However, feasibility of these plans is still uncertain. Furthermore, the government has
not yet established a policy, guideline and/or mechanism for the arrangement and provision of
temporary shelters. There is a Law on Valuation Activity (2002) that assesses land and property
values, but it is advisable that new regulations on post-disaster valuation be introduced.
Further, there is a long-term need to support government—as well as local actors—to build and
develop capacities on key areas related to housing and land use such as urban planning, land and
property assessment and management, disaster risk reduction, and land tenure. Included in this is
the need to complete cadastre work in the settlements.
Recovery and Reconstruction
a. Sectoral Strategy for Recovery and Reconstruction
Principle
Recovery and reconstruction of the housing and land use sector in the affected areas should be
governed by three principles: (1) people-centred approach; (2) timeliness and feasibility; and (3)
national ownership.
(1) People-centred approach
Recovery and reconstruction activities should take into account the needs of affected people.
People and local communities are encouraged to organize themselves and take part in planning
process and implementation of recovery and reconstruction. All activities should take an
inclusive approach, which treats people in a non-discriminatory and fair and equitable manner,
regardless of their sex, age, religion, socio-economic status or other personal characteristics. The
government should take a lead in organizing continuous public consultations.
(2) Timeliness and feasibility
11
The right balance between timeliness and feasibility is required throughout the process of
recovery and reconstruction. While basic needs of displaced people should be satisfied as soon as
possible, recovery and reconstruction activities should be well-planned so that they are feasible
within the anticipated timeline and sustainable in the long-term.
(3) National ownership
The national government is primarily responsible for timely and appropriate recovery and
reconstruction, and local actors must be involved throughout the process to ensure legitimacy
and sustainability. Where necessary, the international community should support national and
local actors to build and develop capacity to carry out recovery and reconstruction.
Implementation Arrangement/Measures
Ministry of State oversees and coordinates the overall recovery and reconstruction process,
including other sectors. Under the supervision of Ministry of Construction and Regional
Development, District Councils of affected districts take the lead to plan and implement recovery
and reconstruction activities of the housing and land use sector in close consultation with the
village municipal authorities. Ministry of Construction and Regional Development is responsible
for developing and revising relevant legislation and guidelines. An Action Plan has been
prepared for Agency of Land Relations and Cadastre to guide the support they will provide
throughout the process.
b. Needs by Sub Sectors and by Ownership
The needs in housing and land management sector could be categorized into the following three
areas: (1) provision of adequate temporary shelter; (2) registration of land and real property
ownership so that exposed people can relocate without threats to their land rights and security of
tenure; and (3) housing reconstruction. All activities responding to these needs should be led by a
public sector.
c. Recovery and Reconstruction Plan
Subsector: Housing and Land Use
Outcome 1: Provision of appropriate temporary shelter to exposed people
Priority Activities
Baseline
Needs
Public /
December
Private
2010
to Needs to
31,
June 30, 2012
Absence of regulation
1.1. Development of
mechanism to arrange
legislation/mechanism
Public
to provide temporary and manage temporary
shelters
shelter
√
-
12
Approximately
400
1.2.
Provision
of
households
are
appropriate temporary
Public
temporarily sheltered in
shelter to exposed
public facilities
people
2.8 million Lei
-
Outcome 2: Regularisation of land ownership to ensure secure tenure of exposed people
Absence
of
official
2.1. Inventory of land
cadastre information in Public
and property titles of
affected villages
exposed people
Absence of cadastre
information
and
2.2. Land exchange
registration on lands Public
and registration for
expected to be acquired
relocation
for relocation
√
-
√
-
Outcome 3: Housing reconstruction
3.1. Digital hazard
mapping
and
identification of areas
vulnerable for natural
disasters
Information with maps
with high hazard areas
and natural disaster Public
vulnerability are not
centrally available
-
√
3.2. Development of
relocation plan based
on hazard mapping and
consultation
with
exposed people
Relocation plan does
not reflect the social
needs
of
affected
Public
people and are not
based on sufficient
public consultation
√
-
New housing units are
3.3. Construction of
not yet available
new houses
Public
216.2
Lei
million 156.5
Lei
million
13
Annex 3: Energy
Background
Power Sub-Sector
The power sector in Moldova represents an important strategic infrastructure for the national
economy and therefore the backbone for country’s development. It is also an important public
service and has a strong social impact. Power supply is essential for both individual livelihoods
as well as for the smooth operation of public and private establishments.
Electricity is the only universal utility service in Moldova with 98% of households connected to
the power grid. A reliably functioning power system is a basic requirement for a modern
economy and economic growth. In addition to the human development aspect of residential
power service, the agricultural sector is an important consumer of electricity in Moldova.
Reliability of service to the agricultural sector, which is a major employer in rural locations
where most of the nation’s poor are concentrated, is crucial for ensuring its position as an engine
of growth in Moldova.
Transmission and dispatch of electricity in Moldova is performed by the State Enterprise
Moldelectrica on 110 – 400 kV high voltage grids. Distribution to end-user consumers is
executed on 10 kV and 0.4 kV grids by two state owned distribution companies (RED Nord-Vest
and RED Nord) and one private foreign capital company (FCC) Union Fenosa, which serves
about 70% of country’s electricity demand on about 2/3 of the territory. Electricity is being
supplied consistently throughout the year, interruptions being caused mainly by accidents and
natural calamities.
The operation of electricity companies is monitored by the National Agency for Energy
Regulation on regulated tariffs. In 2009, domestic consumption of power constituted 3.2 billion
kWh26. Less than one quarter is produced by local combined heat and power plants and other
smaller generation units. The remaining is imported, which makes Moldova, alongside with gas
imports, a net energy importer. The decline in power production over the last year alongside with
power consumption is the result of the global economic and financial crisis.
Table 1 – Power production and consumption over 2007 – 2009
2007
2008
2009
Power produced – total, million kWh
905.0
866.0
3,232.3
3,210.5
903.7
Supplied to end-user consumers (power 3,164.7
consumption) – total, million kWh
Source: ANRE – National Agency for Energy Regulation
26
Source: ANRE – National Agency for Energy Regulation.
14
Rural consumption of electricity is mainly by rural households and agricultural units and
represents a minor share in the total consumption of electricity of about 21%27. Nevertheless,
electricity is essential for rural livelihoods as it represents the only available public utility in
most rural settlements. Therefore, continuous and reliable supply of electricity is of utmost
importance among provision of basic infrastructure to affected areas.
Impact of the Flood on the Sector
Summary
The July 2010 floods have had the greatest affect on electricity consumers in the four flooded
villages in the district of Hincesti (the villages of Sărăteni, Nemţeni, Obileni, Cotul Morii, the
latter being flooded completely and planned to be relocated), and partially other localities in the
districts downstream. This is the area serviced by FCC Union Fenosa. Union Fenosa acted
promptly in a very difficult situation to eliminate potential electrocution accidents , while
ensuring in parallel a reliable power supply to consumers in dry areas.
The four affected localities in the district of Hincesti are supplied from a 35/10 kV voltage
transformer on the feeder line nr. 6 with a total length of 32.1 km, of which 25.1 km represent
the main feeder and 7 km of the secondary lines. The main transformer is equipped with SCADA
system, which allows real time monitoring and prompt intervention to restore the supply in case
of accidents. It has an installed capacity of 4 MVA and it is used only at 25%, while the
secondary transformers with a total installed capacity of 4.049 MVA along the feeder are used
only at 20%, respectively. Therefore, there is enough capacity to sustain additional load. This
line could be reserved via feeder 6 from the 35/10 kV voltage transformer in the village of
Balauresti, which has 2.7 km already constructed at a cost of about MDL 0.5 million. Table 3
below shows all electricity infrastructure affected by the floods.
Table 2 - Summary of Affected Infrastructure in the Road Sector
Location Type and installed capacity Flooded length / units
Access
10kV APL*
7 km, Pole 80/1 to PT684**
no access
Cotul
16.57 km in total, the entire no access
0.4kV APL
Morii,
feeder
Hincesti
PT: 203 – 250kVA; 184 –
no access
3
100kVA; 185 – 250kVA
Nemteni,
no access
0.4kV APL
4.3 km, on separate segments
Hincesti
Obileni,
no access
0.4kV APL
0.8 km, on separate segments
Hincesti
Sarateni,
no access
0.4kV APL
2 km, on separate segments
Hincesti
3.5 km in total, on separate no access
Stoianovk
10kV APL
segments
a,
Cantemir
PT137 – 63kVA
no access
1
10kV APL
0.9 km, poles 10 to 29
no access
Gotesti,
Cantemir
PT141 – 160kVA
no access
1
27
Source: ANRE, World Bank reports
15
Gheltosu,
Cantemir
10kV APL
0.1 km on F-3
0.05 km on F-7
PT: 650 – 1000kVA; 654 –
2
630kVA
Valeni,
PT413 – 40kVA
1
Vulcanesti
* - APL: aerial (overhead) power line
** - PT: power transformer
Source: FCC Union Fenosa, state as of 08.05.2010.
no access
no access
no access
Damage and loss assessment
Total damages to electricity equipment (lines, power transformers, and other equipment) were
estimated by Union Fenosa at about MDL 6.6 million. This represents the amount estimated for
investments to restore damaged infrastructure, as well as the construction of a new extension grid
to supply power to the new residential site planned by the Government to relocate Cotul Morii
(approximately 500 residential units). Restoration and construction works will be executed by
the company and will be accounted for subsequently as new investments by the regulator. The
company plans to mount a total of 28.8 km of 10kV and 0.4 kV lines and 17 various capacity
power transformers. Table 3 provides an overview of investments needed to restore the power
supply to affected consumers.
Table 3 – Summary of investments to restore damages to electricity equipment and restore
supply of power to affected consumers
Works*
Locations Length in Total cost Lei
Note
km / units
Executed
Mounting 10kV APL 3
4.8
833,602.92
Nemteni, Cotul Morii,
Sarateni, Nemteni
Estimated
Mounting
PT
–
3
17
1,649,000.00
Cotul Morii, Sarateni,
10/0.4kV
Obileni, Nemteni
Estimated
Mounting 0.4kV APL 3
24
4,080,000.00
Cotul Morii, Sarateni,
Nemteni, Obileni
Grand total:
6,562,602.92
* - more detailed information on specific lines and objects, as well as costs breakdown, is
available.
Source: FCC Union Fenosa
The company is not able to read the meters for 1,292 consumers in the flooded areas. The
average monthly supply for these consumers is 68 thousand kWh with an approximate cost of
MDL 90 thousand (30 days collection period). Financial losses estimated as a result of reduced
sales between July 7 – 31, 2010 amount to approximately MDL 72 thousand, of which MDL 61
thousand is from residential consumption and MDL 11 thousand for non-residential
consumption. Potential short- and mid-term losses by the company because of lost consumption
could be estimated at MDL 540 thousand and MDL 1.62 million respectively, totaling about
16
MDL 2.2 million over the next 24 months. Table 4 provides an estimate of potential losses to the
company because of lost consumers.28
Table 4 – Potential losses because of lost consumers
Number
of Over the next 6 Another 18 months, Total for 24 months,
consumers*
months,
MDL MDL million
MDL million
million
Total: 1292
0.54
1.62
2.16
including:
residential
0.46
1.38
1.84
non-residential
0.08
0.24
0.32
* - One consumer is considered either one household or one commercial or other legal entity
Source: FCC Union Fenosa
However, the above assumption is provided for estimation purposes rather than real losses to be
incurred. Restoration of power to affected areas as well as power supply to the new site for
relocation represents a priority, as identified by the Government Decision nr. 124-125/715 dated
July 20, 2010 on construction of the new residential site and related infrastructure. It is therefore
estimated that power supply to all areas, including to the new residential site, will be provided
within the next two months.
FCC Union Fenosa already issued connection authorizations for affected areas to Hincesti
District Council. The total cost of design is MDL 155,802, including MDL 93,240 for Cotul
Morii (Leușoaia) and MDL 62,562 for Nemteni.
Total damages and losses to the sector could be qualified as negligible compared to total
consumers served and total electricity sales by Union Fenosa. Union Fenosa supplies power to
804,843 consumers in total, including 228,736 commercial entities. Total energy supplied by
Union Fenosa in 2009 was 2.3 million kWh.
Gas sub-sector
The localities affected by floods are not connected to the gas distribution network, with the
exception of the village of Nemteni, which is supplied by the Nisporeni gas transmission pipe.
The Government announced its readiness to provide all basic infrastructure services to the new
residential site for residents relocated from Cotul Morii, including natural gas. However, in
addition to building the internal distribution network (intravillan), there is the need to build about
36km of gas transmission pipe, with an estimated cost of MDL 16.2 million to connect the new
site and neighboring affected villages to high pressure gas main. Such investment is estimated to
be costly. Moreover, no demand assessment was carried out among the potential new consumers.
The National Gasification program during the last 10 years identified a series of serious issues
that require attention, such as the demand, ownership, investment volumes, capacity of
28
Incurring losses could, however, stop as soon as the damaged systems are restored and new residential site
inhabited.
17
transmission pipes, operation and maintenance of new gas distribution networks, as well as other
issues.
It is therefore recommended that the government takes a careful approach in this regard and
considers this within the broader strategy for extension of gas supply network to the localities of
the Republic of Moldova and the energy sector strategy.
Annex 4: Transport
Background
In 2009, Moldova had a public road network totaling about 9,344 km, of which 3,336 km are
classified as National Roads and the remaining 6,008 km as Local Roads under the management
of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (see table below).
Table 1 - Moldovan Road Network
Pavement structure
National Roads
km
3,336
Hard Surface
Earth/Gravel Roads
3,336
Total
Source: www.statistica.md
Local Roads
km
5,475
533
6,008
Total
km
8,811
533
9,344
The districts where the road network were affected by the floods along the Prut river (Hincesti,
Cantemir, Ungheni, Cahul, Soldanesti) are served by a road network consisting of 1,898.2 km of
public roads of which 640.6 km are national roads (all hard-paved) and 1,257.6 are local roads
(1,132.8 are hard-paved roads).
Table 2 - Road Network in the Affected Districts
Hincesti
Ungheni
Cahul
Cantemir
National
Roads
km
138.7
104.9
179.3
98.9
National Roads
km
(hard
surface)
138.7
104.9
179.3
98.9
Local
Roads
km
213.5
267.2
206.8
168.2
Local Roads
km
(hard
surface)
207.1
240.4
165.2
147.3
Total
km
352.2
372.1
386.1
267.1
18
Soldanesti
46.3
46.3
153.7
139.6
200
Total
640.6
640.6
1,257.6
1,132.8
1,898.2
Source: www.statistica.md
The transport sector contributes to economic development in providing support for most trade
operations and activities in the country. Road transport is an important, efficient and relatively
secure means of transportation adapted to the internal demand of a small territory and trading
with main CIS and neighboring countries. In 2009, road transport accounted for 82% of total
freight transport and 98% of passenger traffic in the country.
Impact of the Flood on the Sector
Summary
While the floods had a severe local impact on a number of communities, especially in Hincesti
district where the village of Cotul Morii was totally submerged under water, the affected roads as
a share of total road network was not significant. The floods submerged two local access roads
and connecting infrastructure, such as two bridges, in Cotul Morii and Sarateni (Hincesti
district). The access road to Nemteni was flooded only briefly, however, and was used to access
the affected villages to provide emergency assistance by the Government and international
community. In Soldanesti, a bridge was totally washed out on the L172 access road. Further
down south in Cantemir district, 1.3 km section of the R34 national road along with a connecting
bridge was submerged under water disrupting normal traffic flow. The section remains
impassable causing drivers to take detours of 22 km and 26 km on Chisinau-Cahul and
Cantemir-Cahul routes respectively. Finally, approximately a total 18 km of village streets were
flooded.
Table 3 - Summary of Affected Infrastructure in the Road Sector
Location
Type
Surface
Cotul
Morii, Local road (two bridges)
Hard (asphalt)
Hincesti
Sarateni, Hincesti
Local
road
(hard Hard (asphalt)
pavement)
Ghioltosu, Cantemir National road (one bridge) Hard (asphalt)
Japca, Soldanesti
Bridge on a local road
8
flooded Village streets
Earth/Gravel
communities
Source: Ministry of Transport and Road Infrastructure
Flooded length km
4.5
5.4
1.3
18
Damage and Loss Assessment
It was not possible to properly ascertain the physical damage caused to the roads by the floods as
most of them were still under water at the time of the assessment and are expected to be under
water for at least one and a half months, particularly the section of the R34 road where large
volumes of water accumulated in the adjacent area to the Prut river. While the water may not
have necessarily caused significant damage to the roads as the floods were not flash, but gradual
19
in nature, the general condition of Moldovan roads is poor and therefore a need for capital repair
is assumed. Based on this assumption, the damage is estimated as the length of the affected roads
multiplied by the unit cost (km) of capital repair by type of road category. The unit costs
estimates were provided by the representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure
and State Road Administration. Based on these assumptions, the total damages to the road
network are estimated at MDL 23,451,365.
Losses are associated with higher vehicle operating costs and longer travel times as a result of
worsened conditions or longer detours that drivers have to take. The calculation of losses for the
local roads is essentially impossible to make at the moment due to lack of traffic data. However,
it is safe to assume that the volume of traffic on local roads in Moldova is very low and therefore
the losses incurred are negligible. The traffic data for the R34 road was provided by the Ministry
of Transport and Road Infrastructure. Based on the assumption that it would take about 12
months to restore the R34 section to its pre-flood condition, the losses incurred made of higher
vehicle operating cost plus time costs were estimated at MDL 87,910,735.
Table 4 - Summary of Estimated Damages and Losses
Location
Type
Flooded
length km
road (two 4.5
Cotul
Morii,
Hincesti
Sarateni, Hincesti
Ghioltosu,
Cantemir
8
flooded
communities
Sapca, Soldanesti
Total
Local
bridges)
Local road
5.4
National road (one 1.3
bridge)
Village streets
18
One bridge
Damages
(MDL)
7,473,443
Losses
(MDL)
n/a
4,654,149
8,923,773
n/a
87,910,73529
2,400,000
n/a
2.200,000
25,651,365
87,910,735
Recovery and Reconstruction
In terms of short-term response, the Government reacted fast by creating an alternative graded
bypass route that goes in parallel to the R34 road for the use of the inhabitants of Ghioltosu and
Gotesti villages. This road would need to be upgraded to allow the resumption of normal traffic
which is currently diverted to the national R56 and M3 roads. This would both reduce the
indirect costs and prevent the damage caused to the R56 and M3 roads which have an inferior
design to the R34 road.
Given the proposed relocation of all Cotul Morii inhabitants and the part of the inhabitants from
Sarateni and Nemteni villages to new sites that are not prone to flooding, reconstruction of the
access road to Cotul Morii is not expected. Instead, 8 km of access road to the new village site is
a short-term priority need and its construction has already started with funding from the national
29
The loss assumes that the parallel bypass to R34 would not be built and the traffic would be diverted to R56 and
M3 roads until the reconstruction of the R34 to pre-flood conditions which is estimated to take up to 12 months.
20
budget. In case of Sarateni, the water is being pumped off the road and the road is expected to be
usable for local traffic by those inhabitants that were not flooded and are expected to stay in the
village. In Soldanesti, the Government used the maintenance funds to build a temporary bypass
road for the inhabitants of Salcia and Japca communities and is in the process of rebuilding the
bridge. Finally, making village streets passable to basic community infrastructure, such as
schools and health posts, is the last short-term need. The total short-term needs are estimated at
MDL 18,219,276.
In the medium-term, 1.5 km of the access road to Sarateni will require rehabilitation within the
next 12 months. Given the large accumulation of water on the R34 road, its slow departure and
the coming cold season, it is expected that its reconstruction to pre-disaster level will also take
up to 12 months. The medium-term needs are estimated at MDL 10,216,592.
Table 5- Summary of Short-term and Medium-term Needs
(in MDL)
Type of Road
National roads
Local roads
Village streets
Total
Short-term
months)
8,923,773
6,895,503
2,400,000
18,219,276
(0-6 Medium-term
years)
8,923,773
1,292,819
10,216,592
(1-2 Total
17,847,546
8,188,322
2,400,000
28,435,868
Railroad Sub-Sector
Background
As of 2009, Moldova had a total railway line length of 1,157 km. The density of the existing
railway lines (32 km of railway line per 1000 sq. km) is equivalent to the relevant value for
neighbouring countries (Ukraine and Romania).
The network was re-built after World War II using wide gauge tracks (1,520 mm), and was
made an integral part of the former Soviet Union's Railways. The network is a part of the CIS
railway network and has the Russian gauge, except for 13.9 km with the European standard
gauge of 1,435 mm (the Prut and Ungheni connection with Romania).
Although declining, railfreight transport still provides an important level of services and is
responsible for about 17% of the total freight in Moldova.
The railway network is managed by the state-owned company, Moldovan Railways.
Impact of the Flood on the Sector
Summary
21
The floods affected two portions of the railroad along the Prut river: the railroad CahulGiurgiulesti and 11 km of railroad in the sector Prut-2-Cahul were flooded. The Prut-2-Cahul
sector is still under water thereby disrupting regular passenger and freight traffic.
Damage and Loss Assessment
The estimate of the damages and losses were provided by the state-owned Moldovan Railway
Company. In the case of Cahul-Giurgiulesti section the amount is MDL 239,057. Given the fact
that the Prut-2-Cahul sector is still under water, it was not possible to properly ascertain the
physical damage caused to the railway. However, given the fact that the section did not receive
adequate maintenance for a long time, the estimate provided assumes a need for capital repair of
this section plus the replacement of the telecommunications equipment that was submerged
under water. The total damage is estimated at is MDL 36,148,677.
The losses were estimated as the increase in operational costs due to the need to transport freight
through the alternative route. The total among of losses to the railway sector assuming that it will
take 12 months to restore normal traffic, is MDL 9,904,012.
Table 6 - Summary of Estimated Damages and Losses to the Railway
Location
Cahul-Giurgiulesti
section
Prut-2-Cahul section
Total
Type
Railroad
Damages (MDL)
239,057
Railroad
35,909,620
36,148,677
Losses (MDL)
9,904,012
Recovery and Reconstruction
The Government already financed the rehabilitation of damages caused to the Cahul-Giurgiulesti
section. It is expected that the restoration of the Prut-2-Cahul section to the pre-flood level will
take up to 12 months. Once the water recedes from the railway section, it is important to make a
more accurate assessment of the rehabilitation needs, of the railway section that is currently
underwater.
22
Annex 5: Water and Sanitation
Background
Moldova’s water resources are estimated at about 1.32 billion m3/year, equivalent to about 300
m3 per year and inhabitant, implying that the country is water-stressed. The Nistru river accounts
for 84% of all water withdrawn, followed by the Prut river with 1%, and by ground water
supplies of 15%. The Nistru and Prut are classified as moderately contaminated, water quality
deteriorating downstream due to discharges from industries, discharge of sewerage, nutrients
from agriculture land, etc. Groundwater quality is uneven with a preoccupying buildup of
nitrates, ammonia, fluorides, and iron in some areas. There are about 3,000 artesian wells and
about 112,000 shallow wells and springs. Shallow wells of a depth of 10-30 m constitute the key
source of water supply is rural areas but only less about 20% comply with the standards of
potable water. A 1997 study on quality of rural drinking water sources (110 shallow wells and
deep boreholes) indicated that more than 90% of the wells had at least one remark on chemical
constituent exceeding national drinking water supply standards.
The quality and reliability of Moldova’s water supply and wastewater services are generally
deficient. All municipalities and towns have piped water systems with about 85% of the urban
population having access to improved sanitation. In contrast, only about 980 rural communities
(66%) have piped water systems, the rest having shallow wells as main source of water.
Similarly, all municipalities and towns have piped waste water collection systems, but only about
40% of rural communities have rudimentary sewerage that have since ceased functioning, with
more than 60% of rural population using pit latrines as main sanitation tool. Studies show that
about 10% of samples from urban water supplies are contaminated with coliforms. The
corresponding share for the rural systems is 16% and as many as 7% of rural samples are
contaminated with fecal coliforms.
Apele Moldovei is the central authority in charge of both water resources management and of
heading the drive to improve the coverage and quality of urban and rural water supplies and
wastewater systems, under direct subordination to the Ministry of Environment. Water and
sanitation systems in urban areas are operated by water and sanitation utilities –Apa Canals—
who are managerially and financially self-sustainable (operate on tariffs), but responsible to their
respective local governments. The Ministry of Health monitors water quality through its Public
Health Bureaus.
Solid Waste Management
Solid waste management in Moldova is a public utility decentralized to local public authorities.
Overall monitoring and sector policies fall under the Ministry of Environment. Rural
communities in Moldova have no organized solid waste collection and disposal. Household solid
waste in most rural areas is transported by households themselves and dumped in a purposely
designated barren land field outside village boundaries, with no further processing. This
represents a serious environmental problem.
23
In the affected areas, flooding waters washed up all such solid waste, which contributed to
additional pollution of flooded areas and subsequent efforts to clean up the lands after water
recedes.
It is therefore recommended that the government sets a clear policy for solid waste management
and contributes to the resolution of solid waste collection, disposal, and further processing
throughout the country in order to avoid adverse environmental impacts in case of future natural
disasters, such as floods. In this respect, an official government delegation visited sites in Italy
and Bosnia and Herzegovina to learn best practices in solid waste management.
Summary of Impact of the flood
The districts affected by the floods were Briceni, Ungheni, Nisporeni, Hincesti, Cantemir, and
Cahul. About 500 out of approximately 3,500 shallow wells and springs and 13 out of 120
artesian wells in about 17 villages have been reported completely flooded and/or affected due to
contamination by infiltration of flooded waters. The most affected area was the district of
Hincesti with 214 wells flooded in three villages: Cotul Morii, Nemteni, and Obileni.
Table 1 – Number of flooded water sources and sanitation facilities
District
Smaller
Water Wells
Supply systems
Artesian wells
Sanitation facilities
(according
to
dwellings)
Nisporeni
0
10
0
4
Glodeni
0
0
0
0
Riscani
0
0
0
0
Falesti
0
0
0
0
Cantemir
1
9
0
5
Hincesti
1
214
4
1020
Cahul
0
0
0
0
Ungheni
0
28
9
55
Briceni
0
125
0
?
Source: Information from Ministry of Environmental of the Republic of Moldova
Damage and losses in the water supply and sanitation sector can be considered as relatively
small, considering poorly developed infrastructure prior to the disaster for water and sanitation in
the flooded area. The flooding mainly affected less crowded rural areas were water sources are
either public, communal or private; deep wells or unprotected shallow wells; and where there are
no sewage systems in place.
A small number of piped systems have been affected but not reported damaged. In the town of
Ungheni one water supply pipe was affected, but soon after reported cleaned and disinfected by
local authorities. In Cantemir district one water accumulation tank was affected, but also soon
after cleaned and disinfected by local authorities. Shallow wells in Hincesti district were
disinfected in areas where water receded. Authorities do not plan to use the 122 flooded shallow
24
wells in Cotul Morii, except for several units to be cleaned and disinfected after water recedes to
serve as safe potable water sources for people working in the fields.
Piped water systems under various stages of construction (currently stalled) in three villages in
the district of Cantemir were not affected at all by the floods. Only the village of Nemtemi
Hincesti district only Nemteni has a piped water system, and it was not affected by floods.
Authorities plan to extend the system to serve households relocated from flooded houses to the
upper part of the village.
Most of the dwellings in the affected villages have one pit latrine, as the main sanitation facility.
It could therefore be assumed that the damage to sanitation facilities is comparable with the
impact on dwellings. A total of1,000 latrines would have to be rebuilt.
As there is no organized system for collection and disposal of households’ solid waste in rural
areas, the potential losses on solid waste are reduced to cleaning up and removing accumulated
solid waste by local authorities and private households.
Table 2 - Damage and Losses in Water and Sanitation
Effects
of
flooding
Ownership
Areas
of
damage (Million Lei)
and losses
Damage
Losses
Total
Public Private
Water supply facilities
(deep wells, shallow
n.a.*
wells, springs, piped
systems)
Sanitation facilities
2.0
12.7
12.7
4.0
6.0
Public
Private
/
communal
(shallow
wells)
Public
Private
Private
/
Solid waste
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
Public communal
(dump sites)
* - data presented are not reliable and therefore need further clarification and breakdown.
Source: Apele Moldovei, Local public administrations of the districts of Ungheni, Hincesti,
Cantemir, and Cahul
A total of 44 dump sites for household solid waste are located in floods affected districts. Only 3
sites in Hincesti are reported as partly or totally flooded.
Recovery and Reconstruction
Recovery and reconstruction of water supply and sanitation in the affected areas should be
considered as development activities. These should go in line with the priorities identified in the
government’s Program of Water Supply and Sewerage in Communities of the Republic of
Moldova until 2015 (Government Decision No. 1406 of December 30, 2005) that envisaged the
need for urgent rehabilitation, technical renewal, and development of municipal and rural Water
Supply and Sewerage in systems towards meeting the targets of the Millennium Development
Goals by 2015, as well as with the provisions of the National Strategy for Water Supply and
25
Sewerage in localities of the Republic of Moldova. The Strategy used data from a survey of
1,530 towns and villages in Moldova and has determined the priority of investments using three
criteria: (i) the potential socio-economic benefits that water and wastewater investments could
produce; (ii) the costs of deteriorated supplies that would be avoided through maintaining the
existing systems; and (iii) the technical and financial feasibility of needed projects.
Applying for funds and planning for improved infrastructure takes time. Water and sanitation
infrastructure is obsolete and/or poorly developed throughout the country, especially in the rural
areas, including in the localities affected by floods. Therefore it is recommended that the
recovery and reconstruction strategy focuses on small scale projects at household and community
level, such as upgrading and improving existing sanitation facilities and protecting existing water
sources, including reducing the risk of groundwater contamination by household sanitation and
domestic livestock infiltrations. These could be done with reduced costs and using local labor.
The government adopted a decision to relocate Cotul Morii to a new site by building about 700
new houses and providing public utilities infrastructure, including water and sanitation. The new
site is in the immediate proximity to a residential site (called Leusoaia) accommodating
households that suffered from the 1995 landslides. The government should consider including
infrastructure for the already existing adjacent neighboring dwellings in the project. This is to
avoid discrimination and provide social equity among population groups living in the area.
Otherwise, it could lead to social tensions and unnecessary conflicts. Extending the infrastructure
to cover the entire neighborhood and increasing the number of consumers would lead to more
efficient operation of the system.
Two new deep wells (about 300 m. deep) are planned to be drilled to provide reliable source of
water to the new system. However, the authorities mentioned high concentrations of ammonia,
fluorides and iron in deep wells ground water. This implies additional important costs for water
treatment.
Increased access to piped water automatically leads to an increased need for collection and
treatment of waste water. In order to prevent a vicious circle (increased uncontrolled discharge of
wastewater that will again adversely impact the quality of water sources), it is imperative to plan
and implement both the water supply and the sanitation system in parallel.
While planning and deciding on new/extending water and sanitation infrastructure, one should
consider operational and maintenance costs too, as well as the organizational set up of consumers
of water supply and sanitation services.
Table 3 – Recovery and Reconstruction Activities
Activities
Baseline
Public/
Private
Needs
to Needs to
December
June 30,
31, 2010
2012
Water supply
26
1.1.
Cleaning
and 520 wells, 13 artesian wells Public and
disinfecting water sources were flooded and some (5 private
reported) water supply system /communal 0.655 million
were affected
(shallow
Lei
wells)
1.2.
Rebuilding
and 520 wells were flooded. It is Public
restoring shallow wells not clear how many of the
3,500 shallow wells in the flood
prone area were affected.
1.3.
Rebuilding
and No information during the Public
repairing deep wells
assessment on damages on deep
wells.* 4 artesian wells were
reported flooded in Hincesti.
1.4. Construction of water One planned relocation site for Public
supply system for the new 700 households.
site.
Sanitation
2.1.
Construction
of One planned relocation site for Public
sewerage system and 700 households
waste water treatment
facility for the new site.
2.2. Rebuilding damaged About 1000 toilets need to be Private
private toilets (improved reconstructed.
toilet
facilities)
for
dwellings in affected
communities
Total:
0.604 million
Lei
3.477 million
Lei
-
8.0
million
Lei
-
4.0
million
Lei
2.0
Lei
million
-
18.7 million
Lei
27
Annex 6: Agriculture
Crops, Livestock, Irrigation/Drainage and Land
Background
The
agricultural sector, including crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries, contributes to about 8.4% of
the GDP and remains the most important source of livelihoods and foreign exchange earnings.
Agricultural production and processing generate about 47.3% of export revenues, second only to
remittances, and employ more than 28% of the economically active population. The main
agricultural export products are wine, fruits, vegetables and industrial crops. In rural areas, where
more than 70 percent of the poor live, agriculture remains the main source of livelihoods. Food
and livelihoods security and poverty alleviation, therefore, depends on the performance of the
agricultural sector.
Challenges, threats, and opportunities in the agricultural sector are significant and efforts to tap
agricultural potential have, unfortunately, left much to desire. The agricultural value added has
shrunk by about 50% compared with pre-independence levels. Irrigation infrastructure is 7% and
farm machinery is less than 50% of the pre-independence levels. Despite some efforts to reverse
the trend, high value crops, such as vineyards and orchards, have been converted into low-valuehigh-volume crops. Area covered by orchards and vineyards remain at about 50% below
independence levels and productivity is even lower. Insufficient attention to farmer organizations
and associations has provided an opportunity for a few individuals to form very large farm units,
which have been found to be highly inefficient (WB 2005, Agricultural Policy Notes). Leases
are typically for 3-4 years, impeding investment in land and productivity. Public expenditure on
agriculture is relatively low, less than 1% of GDP and about 3% of the national budget.
The agricultural sector suffers from several climate-related hazards such as droughts, hail storms,
frost, heavy and unseasonal showers, landslides and floods. The frequency and severity of these
threats have significantly increased over the recent past. Natural assets such as highly fertile
soils, water resources and generally favorable climatic conditions provide significant
opportunities to develop agriculture into a real engine of economic growth. In addition,
Moldova’s proximity to markets in the EU and the Russian Federation, where demand for high
quality, healthy/organic and diversified food products are high and rising, is a major opportunity
to further develop the agricultural sector. Reliable access to these markets is likely to increase
demand for private sector investment in agriculture infrastructure, mechanization, processing and
risk reduction initiatives (insurance, cooperatives and others).
Assessment Methodology
Assessment is based on the PDNA DALA methodology. The local authorities at the district and
municipal levels had conducted detailed assessments and compiled damage estimates in
significant detail immediately after the floods. A mission comprising of 4 FAO international staff
and experts from various technical departments in the Ministry of Agriculture visited the affected
area and verified reported damages and losses. Crop and livestock produce losses, including
feed, were estimated using the average of 2004-2006 as baseline, which is generally considered
28
normal years. Crop and livestock produce as well as feed losses in two most affected districts
(Hincesti and Cantemir) also include expected output losses in 2011 and partly 2012, as
agricultural activities in those two districts are not expected to resume within the envisaged
period. All damages and losses in crop and livestock sub-sectors are private.
Damages to land include clearing farmland from flood debris and additional costs, estimated at
4,270 Lei per ha, related to land preparation for cultivation. This estimate does not take into
account the potential chemical and biological deposits that may have been brought with
floodwaters, which can only be verified at a later stage when laboratory tests are feasible and
floodwaters recede. Damages in the livestock sub-sector include damages to livestock sheds,
stock mortality and destocking in view of lack of feeding and space in the host villages. The
destocking takes into account the culled value of the stock as meat. A large number of wild
rabbits, a good source of food for many rural households, have also been affected but the mission
could not estimate exact numbers. Damages to irrigation and drainage systems include only those
functioning prior to floods. Replacement cost methodology has been used to estimate damages to
the drainage and irrigation systems. The irrigation and drainage systems are public property.
Local financial farm-gate prices have been used to estimate damages and losses. Farm-gate
prices have been adjusted for seasonality and disaster years.
Impact of the flood on the Sector
Heavy rains in Ukraine, Romania and Northern Moldova during the second and third weeks of
July caused significant floods along the Prut and Nistru rivers. Dilapidated embankments,
drainage and irrigation systems as well as poorly managed water systems were ingredients of a
potent recipe for disaster, which left many communities vulnerable. The floods have affected the
agricultural livelihoods of an estimated 4,326 households (nearly 13,000 people) in mainly 11
districts. Other districts have also been affected but to a lesser extent.
Damage and Loss Estimates
An estimated 6,144 ha of prime agricultural land has been affected, out of which 4,432 ha are
completely submerged. Current indications are that the submerged areas may not be ready for
cultivation over at least two additional cropping seasons (2011-12). Hincesti and Cantemir
districts are the worst affected accounting for most of the submerged areas. A total of 12
drainage and irrigation schemes in 4 districts have been damaged with an estimated cost totaling
some 21.6 million Lei. These are the only damages incurred by the public sector, while the rest
of the 174 million Lei represent damages and losses of the private sector (including both small
households and peasant farms, as well as large agricultural enterprises). Total damages and
losses in the agricultural sector have been estimated at about 195.8 million Lei. Table 1 below
presents a summary of damages and losses in the agricultural sector. Appendix 1 presents
estimates of damages and losses by sub-sector and district.
Table 1. Summary of damages and losses in the agricultural sector.
29
In addition to the floods, which have affected a limited number of districts, hails and heavy rains
in late spring and early summer have also caused significant damages to crops. Government
estimates indicate that more than 30% of crops may have been lost due to hail and heavy rains in
the country. The great majority of lost crops are high-value crops such as vegetables, vineyards
and orchards, which are likely to have significant repercussions for food and livelihood security
in the country. Unfortunately, the mission did not have sufficient time to conduct a national level
crop assessment.
Recovery and Reconstruction
The recovery strategy takes into account the immediate and medium term needs of the affected
population and their host families. The needs are also based on the government’s existing and
medium term plans, programs and strategy for the agricultural sector. The recovery strategy
heavily draws upon the recently developed FAO National Medium Term Priority Framework
(NTPF, 2009-2011) with a view to link the proposed immediate and medium term flood
rehabilitation measures with medium and long-term development objectives. The proposed short
and medium term interventions also envisage disaster risk reduction in the agricultural sector
with a view to reduce future vulnerabilities and improve resilience.
Agriculture is the most important if not the only economics activity in the flood affect areas. The
great majority of the affected households are smallholder farmers with very little alternative
sources of livelihoods. The flood-affected households are also considered among the poorest and
most vulnerable population in the country, as the great majority are smallholder semi-subsistent
farmers. The proposed activities in the agricultural sector also envisage reducing the likelihoods
of extreme measures by the households and the need for protracted relief operations, while
building future resilience and improving food and livelihoods security among the target
communities.
Whereas proposals and activities are presented separately, almost all are inter-related. An
integrated crop-livestock system has already taken shape for a number of years and irrigation and
drainage is necessary to produce high-value crops and reduce the risk of crop losses to drought
and high water tables. The seemingly disjointed proposals may be considered as components of a
rehabilitation program.
It is important to note that the brief concepts presented below require further feasibility studies,
which were not allowed for within the scope of the PDNA mission. The overall objectives of the
proposed interventions are: (i) meet the immediate needs of the flood affected farming
households and their hosts with a view to reduce the likelihood of extreme measures by
households and the need for a protracted relief operation; (ii) improve livelihood and food
security of the affected population. Table 2 below provides a summary of rehabilitation needs in
Lei.
30
Table 2. Estimated flood rehabilitation needs.
Total Needs
in 000's Lei
Immediate
Medium
Districts/Categories
6-Months
18 Months
Crops
10,620
52,628
Land Rehab
19,058
Livestock
21,854
19,824
41,678
Irrigation/Drainage
6,971
14,650
21,621
Total
58,502
87,102
145,604
63,248
19,058
Proposed Short-Term Recovery Plan (6-Months)
a. Support to vegetable production, greenhouse and open field cultivation, targeting
flood-affected farmers (US$0.9 million)
Objective: To improve food security, livelihoods and nutrition through vegetable production
Inputs and training in improved horticulture production will be provided to 500 most vulnerable
households as primary beneficiaries and about 2,500 as secondary beneficiaries in the floodaffected districts. Each household will be able to, at least, cultivate 100 m2 of land, which most
rural households own as their kitchen garden. Each household will be able to earn an estimated
US$2,500 per year.
b. Emergency support to livestock production and health (US$1.8 million)
Objectives: prevent the potential culling of a large number of livestock and ensure animal health
and productivity over the coming winter and early spring.
Livestock is a very important store of value, source of livelihoods and nutrition. Support to
livestock is, therefore, a direct support to food and livelihood security and nutrition. It is a lot
cheaper to prevent culling than to restock once destocking has occurred. Restocking is wrought
with significant problems and hardly successful.
Target population: 6,172 most vulnerable and food insecure households in the most affected
districts.
Main activities include:


Distribution of animal feed concentrates and appropriate training for preparation of
Homemade Concentrates;
Preparation and use of small scale silage, as a way of addressing the underutilization of the
available feed resources in the country;
31

Anti-parasitic treatment of animals, addressing the usual increased parasitic prevalence in
flooded areas, infestations by gastrointestinal parasites in the targeted animals, and
improving the utilization of the donated food.
c. Rehabilitation of Drainage system in Cotul Morii, Hincesti District (US$0.46 million)
Objectives: Rehabilitate 3,056 ha of highly productive agricultural land and thus restore the
main source of livelihoods of households that depend on this land. Water table in this area is
usually high, without an appropriate drainage system, crop cultivation is difficult and yields are
very low. The drainage system is also expected to reduce the risk of crop failure due to high
levels of water table and benefit some 2,351 households assuming 1.3 ha per household. This
component is expected to generate some 750 man-days of unskilled and 103 man-days of skilled
labor. Main activities include:


Cleaning drainage canals, 19.8 KM
Rehabilitation of the drainage pump station, 2.7 m3/sec.
d. Rehabilitation of Draining and Irrigation Systems in Cantemir District (US$0.52
Million)
Objectives: Rehabilitate 2,346 ha of highly productive agricultural land and thus restore the
main source of livelihoods of the affected households. The water table in this area is usually
high, without an appropriate drainage system crop cultivation is difficult and yields are very
low. The drainage system is expected to reduce the risk of crop failure due to high water table.
This component is expected to benefit some 1,805 households and generate some 309 man-days
of unskilled and some 271 man-days of skilled labor. Main activities include:





Drainage canal system rehabilitation in Soianovca, 74 ha, length of canal 0.52 KM.
Drainage canal system rehabilitation Tiganca, 347 ha, length of canal 3.7 KM.
Drainage canal system rehabilitation in Gotesti, 292 ha, length of canals 2.04 KM.
Irrigation rehabilitation in Gotesti, 2,284 ha., 2X1.5 m3/sec pump.
Irrigation rehabilitation in Toceni, 1,707 ha, 1.2 m3/sec pump.
Proposed Medium-Term Recovery Plan (18-24 Months)
a. Support to Cereal Seed Sector Development (US$1.7 Million)
Objectives: this component aims to assist flood-affected farmers with improved cereal seed
varieties, provide the foundation for the development of a viable seed industry and contribute to
livelihoods and food security of farming households by increasing both agricultural production
and productivity and diversifying agricultural production. This component covers two major
food crops, winter wheat and maize.
a.1. Support to Wheat Seed Sector Development (US$0.6 million):
Major activities with regard to wheat seed include:
 Strengthening elements of the winter wheat seed sector development including variety
improvement, maintenance and pre-basic seed production to improve the quality of prebasic and basic seeds.
32
 Strengthening technical capacities of Seed Producer Associations especially in the field
of marketing.
 Strengthening technical capacity of the seed testing laboratory of Seed Inspectorate and
State Commission and institutional capacity of Variety Testing and Registration to carry
DUS and VCU trials in compliance with international requirements.
 Strengthening Seed Policy in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry to prepare
National Seed Sector Development Program in collaboration with all stakeholders of the
seed sector.
 Provision of about 100 Mt of pre-basic/basic winter wheat seed to registered seed
breeders to cultivate 500 hectares, which is expected to produce about 1,500 Mt of first
generation winter wheat seed out of which about 200 Mt will be redistributed to 1,000
most affected farmers and host families in Briceni, Hinchesti, Cantemir and Cahul
Districts.
a.2 Support to Hybrid Maize Seed Development (US$1.1 million)
Major activities include:
 Provision of 29 Mt of hybrid seed to 2,872 flood affected household and host families,
which would cover 1,436 hectare of land;
 Support maize seed testing and quality control system in the country;
 Policy and legislative support to encourage private sector investment in hybrid maize;
 Support the formation of hybrid maize seed producer associations.
b. Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction in Agriculture (DRR) (US$1.2 Million)
Objectives: Prepare, adapt and respond to climate change and hazards to agriculture. Based on
the WB study (Hazard Management Study, 2007) in response to increased frequency and
severity of disasters in the face of climate change, this component shall assist the government in
the following areas.





Support to modification of farming systems and practices to better cope with climate
change ad reduce risks. The Ministry of Agriculture has already begun some activities in
this regard, but more support is required.
Conservation agriculture, in support of reducing soil erosion, improve moisture retention,
reduced tillage, soil nutrient management;
Improved water management and efficient irrigation water use, small-scale irrigation;
Support to plant breeding research and identifying more drought resistant varieties;
Policy legislative support to better cope with climate change and disaster risk
management.
c. Early Warning and Contingency Planning (US$1 million)
Objectives: Development of livelihoods baseline, contingency planning and early warning
system in support of improved preparedness and response. This component will be planned
and implemented in conjunction with a recently approved WB project on early warning
systems and disaster risk reduction.
Main activities include:
33




The development of a livelihoods baseline throughout the country;
Early warning system that would include, annual/seasonal updates, collection and
analysis of critical data on a regular basis;
Preparation of community (municipality/village) contingency planning.
Linking early warning system with insurance mechanisms to support crop insurance
in the country.
d. Support to livestock artificial insemination (US$1 million)
Objectives: Sustainable restocking through improved capacity in artificial insemination and
genetic improvement. The State Agency, Republican Centre for Improvement and Reproduction
of Animals is the only authority in Moldova, authorized by the Ministry for Agriculture and
Food Industry to perform services related to improvement of livestock genetics and artificial
inseminations. The centre was supported through an EU-funded project to modernize animal
pens. However, the 2007 drought had significant impact on the capacity of the centre. Without
further support the centre may no longer be able to provide adequate service to the sector. This
is expected to improve restocking in the flood affected areas as well as elsewhere in the country.
Main activities include:




Support the Centre primarily to develop a business and operation plan in order to
achieve sustainability, as well as to strengthen the capacity of its management.
Provide recommendations for policy/legal measures for operations on cost-sharing
basis and in combination with necessary decision making, allowing further
development and sustainability.
Procure at least six bulls of appropriate breeds and quality allowing production of
semen and dissemination of improved genetic material.
Provide modernized equipment for packing of the produced semen.
e. Pasture rehabilitation and improved management (US$ 0.5 million)
Objectives: Improve livelihoods through sustainable management and utilization of pastures.
This sub-component envisages the study of pasture management and ownership regime in
Moldova, focusing particularly in the flood affected areas. Piloting of the proposed management
system in a number of areas is also envisaged. Main activities include:








Determine carrying capacity of summer grazing of communal permanent pastures;
Determine investments needed for improvement of grasslands.
Identify grazing land per village and settlement: permanent and temporary
Identify number of animals grazing by type, species, settlement and village;
Determine drinking water availability and quality, pastures with water supply
Determine grassland productivity, dry matter yield and MJ/Kg DM and conducted
grassland carrying capacity assessment
Recommendations on communal pasture management practices suitable for country
wide implementation such as: turnout date, stocking management, utilization rights
Recommendations on Primaries and National policy, legal and normative regulations
on the use of pastures and grazing revenues.
34
f. Drainage system rehabilitation in Stefan Voda District (US$ 0.64 million)
Objectives: Rehabilitation of drainage system in Stefan Voda to enable the cultivation of highvalue crops (vegetables) in 4,794 ha of high quality land.
The drainage system has been affected by floods and requires immediate rehabilitation, without
which crop production in this area may not be feasible. The rehabilitation work is expected to
generate some 1,776 man-days of unskilled labor and some 136 man-days of skilled labor.
Main activities include:
 Drainage system rehabilitation in Talmaza, 2800 ha, length of canals 18 KM.
 Drainage system rehabilitation in Rascaiti, 894 ha, canals 14.4 KM, pump station 0.8
m3.sec.
 Drainage system rehabilitation in Olanesti, 1100 ha, canals 15,361 KM, Pump 1 m3/sec.
g. Irrigation system rehabilitation in Ungheni District (US$ 0.25 million)
Objectives: Rehabilitation of irrigation system in Ungheni district to enable the cultivation of
high-value crops (vegetables) in 5,307 ha of high quality land. The rehabilitation of the irrigation
system will also provide a total of 173 man-days of skilled labor. Main activities include:




Irrigation system rehabilitation Ungheni, 3,345 ha, pump 1.12 m3/sec;
Irrigation system rehabilitation in Valea Mare, 903 ha, pump 0.66 m3/sec;
Irrigation system rehabilitation Gherman-Sculeni, 401 ha, pump 1.5 m3/sec;
Irrigation system rehabilitation Blindesti, 659 ha, pump 0.3 m3/sec.
h. Feasibility study for a nature reserve in Cantemir District (US$0.18 million)
Objectives: Determine the possibilities for alternative agricultural/aquaculture use of the areas
prone to flooding, as a way of sustainably mitigating future risks and ensuring the livelihood of
the affected population.
The study will examine the possibilities for provision of long-term solutions to the recurring
problems of the affected population. It will examine the whole chain of aquaculture production
and marketing systems in the flood-prone areas, in particular along the Prut and Nistru rivers.
The study shall also consider sustainable and environmentally sound solutions to a narrow
stretch of land (about 550 ha) in Cantemir district along the Prut river, which is usually flooded
and is part of the natural flood plains.
Appendix 1. Moldova, Flood Damage and Loss Estimates in the Agricultural
Sector
In 000's Lei
Districts/Categories
Damages
Losses
Total
Public
Private
Brichani
35
Crops
685
Livestock
3,220
3,905
3,905
477
477
477
-
-
Irrigation/Drainage
Total
685
3,697
4,381
-
Hinchesti
Crops
4,381
-
11,555
67,865
79,420
79,420
Livestock
7,941
1,667
9,609
9,609
Irrigation/Drainage
5,350
Total
24,846
69,532
5,350
5,350
94,378
5,350
Cantimir
89,028
-
Crops
7,370
25,918
33,288
33,288
Livestock
3,225
2,122
5,347
5,347
Irrigation
5,921
Total
16,516
28,040
5,921
5,921
44,556
5,921
Cahul
Crops
Livestock
690
10,974
11,664
11,664
-
241
241
241
-
-
Irrigation/Drainage
Total
690
11,215
11,905
Aneni Noi
Crops
73
11,905
618
690
690
373
373
373
-
-
1,064
1,064
Irrigation/Drainage
73
991
Stefan Voda
Crops
-
-
Livestock
Total
38,635
185
2,013
2,198
2,198
36
Livestock
259
Irrigation/Drainage
7,450
Total
7,635
259
2,271
259
7,450
7,450
9,906
7,450
Ungheni
Crops
911
Livestock
Irrigation/Drainage
2,900
Total
3,811
20,605
21,517
21,517
325
325
325
20,931
2,900
2,900
24,742
2,900
Edinet; Soldanesti; Rishcani; Leova (sum of 4 Districts).
Crops
Livestock
Grand Total:
21,842
-
192
1,356
1,548
1,548
1,682
1,633
3,315
3,315
-
4,862
Irrigation/Drainage
Total
2,456
1,874
2,988
4,862
56,129
139,666
195,795
21,621
174,174
37
Annex 7: Livelihoods and Small Trading
Background
There are 198,173 inhabitants living the in the communities in the flooded area (Ministry of
Economy - MoE, 2008). The affected area is predominantly rural in nature (75%) and around
10% of the population is estimated to be permanently located out of the area for reasons
connected with migration, studies, etc. Table 1 sets out the nature of the population structure in
the flooded area.
Table 1: General Population Characteristics of the Flooded Communities (2008)
Affected area
Population Men
Women Present
% Present
Urban areas (small
49289
23069 26020
44420
90.1
towns)
148884
73608 75476
136100
91.4
Rural areas
198173
96677 101496
180520
91.1
Total
Source: Ministry of Economy
There are 76,128 families in the affected area, over 70% of which are located rural areas: 3.8%
of such families have 3+ children under the age of 18 and there are three times as many rural
families with disabled members than is the case with urban families (MoE, 2008).
The businesses sector, regardless of whether located in the flooded zones or not, is small
compared to the urban areas. Most such businesses concentrate on processing of agro-products,
as well as trade, light industry and services. In 2009 the size of the average micro enterprise in
the affected districts was 2.8 employees and the average turnover per employee was 86,500 lei in
micro enterprises. The bulk of the economy in the affected area is agricultural in nature; there are
25,545 agricultural producers with less than 10ha of land, the level at which the farmers are
considered to be economically viable. These agricultural producers, effectively operating on a
subsistence basis, account for 99% of all farmers in the area affected by the flood.
Moldova’s official national unemployment rate in 2009 was relatively modest (6.4%) by
comparison with neighbouring countries, although this is known to be an underestimate, partly
because of the degree of migration. The official national male unemployment rate 7.8% is
significant higher than that of females (4.9%); and the youth unemployment rate stands at 15.4%
(15-24 years). However, the data from the flooded communities show that the unemployment
rate stands at 5.8% in urban areas but is more than double in rural areas (12.7%); these figures
are indicative only, but illustrate the degree of the problem.
At the national level, the poverty levels in rural areas increased during 2009: the absolute poverty
rate reached 36.3% (+1.7% compared with 2008) for rural areas compared to 12.6% (-3.6%) in
urban areas, including small towns (MoE). Out of the total number of flooded villages, 6
communities are part of the category of the most deprived communities at the national level, out
38
of which 3 are from the Hincesti district (Cotul Morii, Obileni, Nemţeni); the other three are
from the districts of Ungheni (Medeleni), Nisporeni (Bărboieni) and Briceni (Lopatnic).
National data show that income from agricultural activities in rural areas amounts to 18% of total
incomes; wages amount to 30%; social payments (20%) and remittances for 22%. Remittance
levels decreased significantly in the first quarter of 2009 (money transfers homeward from
people through the financial system were 29 percent lower in the first quarter of 2009 than in the
same quarter a year earlier – source: World Bank Policy Note for the Government, May 2009).
This, combined with the loss of agricultural income, implies a significant decrease in incomes in
the affected communities.
Impact of the flood on the Sector
The vast majority of the economy is rural and therefore agricultural in nature. This section
examines the impact of the flood on the non-farm economic activities. From this perspective, the
damages and losses are fairly mild, having affected only 4 shops and 2 industrial units.
Furthermore, damage has occurred to some of the community infrastructure: 2 cultural centres, 1
library and 1 wooden church were affected. It should be noted that kindergartens, schools and
health clinics are discussed and assessed elsewhere in this report. All the damage and losses
occurred in Cotul Morii village, except for a mill in Sarateni, a construction business in Gotesti
village and one culture centre in Obileni village.
Damages and Losses in the Livelihoods and Small Trading Sector
Type of Commerce
(private)
Community
Estimation
of
Damage*(Lei)
a) Premises
b)
Equipment
(refrigerator/shop
window/engine)
c) Stock of goods
to sell
Estimation
of
Losses (Lei)
Total for
Sector
(lei)
Traders
Industry
724000
187000
240000
120000
Cultural Assets**
Public
Religious
19100
2000000 0
12000
1500000 0
284000
32000
500000
200000
35000
235000
1792000
2259200
4051200
282400
506400
Normal sales
a) Baseline data
lei/month
224000
b) Period of sales
stoppage, months
8
71000
3102000
1980000
887000
8
39
c) Sales losses
Due to lack of
inputs
8
Due to lack of
goods to sell
8
Due to period
of
reconstruction 8
1792000
8
8
8
2259200
4051200
* Assumption: will be rebuilt from scratch
** Public: 2 cultural centres and 1 library; Religious: wooden church
Summary Damage and Losses Table
The total damage to the sector is estimated at 3,102,000 Lei, whilst the estimated loss is
4,051,200 Lei. Therefore, compared with sectors such as housing and agriculture, the nonagricultural (small trading) sector has experienced relatively modest damages and losses. This
reflects the very high concentration of activities in the rural sector and the subsistence nature of
the economy. The latter implies that, in addition to replacing the lost business activity, it is
necessary to give significant policy attention to the need to raise both agricultural and nonagricultural incomes so as to sustain rural livelihoods. At the same time, it is necessary to
diversify the local economy.
Human Recovery
This section presents a brief analysis of the situation in the affected area from a broad livelihoods
and non-agricultural perspective. This is based on a two day field trip (3-4 August 2010) to
Hincesti and Ungheni, as well as discussions with Ministries, Districts, Communities as well as
NGOs and victims of the flood. The issues raised below probably only represent a subset of the
problems being experienced in the flooded affected area, based on a livelihoods perspective.
a) Impact on basic needs and services
Emergency food provision: the provision of food, clothes and other forms of support appears to
be well organised in the areas most affected by the flood, such as in the Hincesti district.
However, the response may not be so effective where damage was not as extreme and districts
and communities are not being supervised by the Government. For example, in Ungheni, none of
the flood victims has received any food or other form of material support (except for 500 Lei of
Government support to some but not all flood victims – see below) from the public authorities
as of the 4th August 2010 (29 days after the flood struck). The affected families are left to their
own devices to feed themselves; most are incurring debts to survive. There is a need for the
Government to review and coordinate the food and other aid situation in the less severely
affected communities, so as to ensure prompt and regular delivery of food and other forms of
support for all affected flood victims.
State financial support: the Government has provided Lei 500 per victim of the flood in what is
thought to be the first of various tranches of support; however, this is not getting to all flood
40
victims. The Government should review why this is the case and implement the necessary
changes and compensate all flood victims.
Relocation of villages: The Government intends to resettle people, such as in Cotul Morii, to
higher ground to avoid further risk of flood. Land purchase, preparation, construction, etc. takes
some time and it is normally combined with a structured process of consultation and information
provision. The Government needs to consider developing a strategy for the relocation process; a
top-down approach is generally counterproductive.
Information on re-housing and other aspects: The flood victims are aware of the fact that the
government will re-house them but the lack of information provision on how, when, etc. is
aggravating stress and anxiety. Since the Mayors' / Presidents' offices also seem to lack the
necessary information, the affected communities are experiencing an information gap. The
Government should initiate a proactive, regular information provision service across all the
affected area in relation to housing, as well as all other aspects of coping with the disaster such
as money awards, compensation for lost housing and crops, etc.
Livestock issues: The re-housed flood victims have salvaged their livestock but this is leading to
tensions and frictions (due to grazing); some of the livestock will need to be sold or culled. There
is a need to support this process with information, advice and support. The sale of livestock is
likely to lead to two consequences from a livelihoods perspective: a further loss of source of
income as well as a loss of valuable nutrients for the families in question.
Compensation for housing: All victims have been offered compensation by the Government but
it is left to Compensation Committees at district/local authority level assess the eligibility of the
claims of the families whose homes were affected by the flood. However, there appears to be a
degree of discretion in the process which may result in unfair treatment, especially of the poorer
and more vulnerable families. This suggests that there is significant scope for local interpretation
of the housing compensation rules: policies, procedures must be developed which can be applied
consistently to all flood victims. Training also appears to be required on the application of the
housing compensation procedure.
Compensation for lost crops, livestock, etc.: The earliest that some communities will gain
income from their re-planted crops will be summer/autumn 2011. For them to replant at all, they
will need to receive seeds/seedlings and/or compensation for the lost crops, livestock and trees.
This must be done as soon as possible to avoid tipping them into deeper poverty. Furthermore,
as in the case of housing compensation, policies and procedures must be developed which can be
applied consistently to all flood victims, with appropriate training on the application of the
compensation procedure.
Post-disaster Livelihoods: The issue of assistance with reconstruction of the future new homes
by the flood victims on a cash for work / public works basis is critical. Equally important, is the
necessity for due consideration and planning for post-disaster livelihoods. There is a need to
assist the districts and communities to plan and implement a post-disaster livelihoods strategy
focusing on re-establishing the lost non-agricultural economic activities, diversification of the
41
local economy and generating sustainable livelihoods, especially in the most severely affected
areas.
b) Capacities
The fieldwork indicates that the capacities at the level of the district and communities need to be
strengthened in terms of staff, procedures and processes in connection with information
provision, consultation, compensation arrangements, support fund to individuals, etc. Since
floods and droughts are becoming a regular occurrence, there is a need for the Government to
raise the capacities of the districts and communities to develop effective post-disaster responses,
including information provision, consultation, compensation rules, transfer of financial support,
etc.
Recovery and Reconstruction
a) Sectoral Strategy for Recovery and Reconstruction
The strategy for recovery and reconstruction relies on the application of principles such as
awareness raising, regular and proactive information provision, consultation and empowerment
of the local communities affected by the flood. This in turn necessitates effective coordination
between the Government (not least the Ministries of Interior, Economy, Agriculture,
Construction and Regional Development and Labour, Social Protection and Family), as well as
between the districts and the communities/mayoralties at the lower geographical scale.
The key measures which are likely to be needed include:
 Emergency food aid to less severely affected communities.
 Information and Communication.
 Community empowerment and participation.
 Cash for work / public works.
 Support to entrepreneurship.
 Diversification of the rural economy.
b) Disaster Risk Reduction
A number of elements will be required in order to reduce the vulnerability of the livelihoods, as
well as ensure the reduction of disaster risk, including:
 Cash for work/public works in reconstruction of key infrastructure for disaster victims.
 Initiatives to support diversification of livelihoods.
 Vocational training of affected people, including women and the most vulnerable e.g.
youth.
 Raising awareness among small entrepreneurs of the necessity for business insurance.
 Economic programmes to stimulate entrepreneurship and self-employed.
 Revitalisation of agricultural and non-agricultural activities with a focus on women and
other targeted groups.
 Income-generation activities piloted for up-scaling, including storage, drying, processing,
etc.
 Introduction of financial tools for risk reduction (e.g. insurance for small enterprises and
workers on livelihood assets; interest free loans, micro finance, etc.).
42

Organisation of cooperative initiatives to reduce costs and develop livelihoods.
43
c) Recovery and Reconstruction Plan
Sub-sector: Livelihoods and Small Trading
Outcome(s): sub-sector recovers to pre-flood level; diversification of the local
higher levels of income
Priority Activities
Baseline
Public
/ Needs
Private
to Dec
31 2010
First 6 months
LEI
1. Financial support in the form of interest 4
food Private
600000
free loans to restore small trade / industrial shops and
activities to pre-food levels.
3
small
mills
2. Food aid for communities which were 600 people
Public
900000
only partially affected by the flood.
3. Emergency temporary jobs: i) Cash for 500
Public
5
work (e.g. rubble removal, infrastructure emergency /
million
rehabilitation); ii) Emergency Public temporary
Employment Services (e.g. in public jobs created
works programmes such as housing
construction).
4.
Targeted
livelihood
and
self 25 start-up Public
500000
employment start-up grants for non-farm grants
income generating activities (crafts,
sewing, carpentry, brick making).
5. Government review of policy, Report,
Public
800000
procedures and communications: food information
distribution, financial support distribution, provision
relocation of housing, compensation for
housing, compensation for livestock,
orchards, etc. and community / district
capacities; as well as development of a
proactive information provision to flood
victims.
6.
Participative
community
based 10
Public
625000
development leading to strategies and Community
action plans for community development Dev.
(including social, health, economic Strategies
development, etc.
and Action
Plans
7. Policy analysis of the micro, macro and Report
Public
300000
sectoral policies that influence people’s
livelihood
strategies
and
policy
recommendations (for 7-24 month period).
8. Review of relocation and re-housing Report,
Public
200000
economy;
Needs to
Jun 30
2012
LEI
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
44
plans with a view to ensuring that the consultation
affected communities are fully consulted sessions
and are involved in the plans for their
future.
Priority Activities
Baseline
Months 7-24
9. Diversification of the local economy:
long term entrepreneurial / business
management / development training,
including start your business training and
business development, combined with
start-up finance and advice. Target group
with attention to women and youth.
10. Vocational training providing demandled skills for both agricultural and nonagricultural
livelihoods,
and
for
sustainable
employment
and
selfemployment opportunities.
11. Financial access and micro finance
programme support targeting particular
groups affected by the crisis. This is to
enable people to raise incomes.
12. Agriculture recovery and increasing
incomes:
Assisting conflict/disaster
affected communities to benefit from
support in establishing low tech, low cost
storage, drying and processing facilities,
including cooperative development.
13. Capacity development in analysis and
planning: districts, communities, CSOs /
NGO capacity development in livelihoods
recovery,
programme
design,
development, monitoring and evaluation
14. Financial support to establish cultural
and other community facilities destroyed
by the flood
Public
Private
/ Needs
Needs to
to
31 Jun 30
Dec 31 2012
2010
250 participants
100 start-ups
Public
0
2 million
600 participants
Public
0
3 million
100 participants
Public
0
1.2
million
Raise
rural Public
household
incomes
0
3 million
All districts
Public
0
600000
2
cultural Public
centres,
1
church, 2 admin.
buildings
15. Community empowerment and Various cultural, Public
development: implementation of 10 health
&
Community Strategies and Action Plans economic
(previously prepared in the first 6 months) activities
0
500000
0
6.2
million
45
Annex 8: Education
Background (Situation before the flood)
In 2009/2010 school year there were 419 educational institutions in Cantemir, Hincesti,
Nisporeni, Stefan Voda and Ungheni districts, including 201 pre-school institutions and 218
schools, gymnasiums and lyceums. The total number of enrolled children was 71,999, including
16,257 children in pre-school institutions and 55,742 students in schools. In the pre-flood period,
there were 17 schools and 16 pre-school educational institutions in the mostly flood-affected
villages of the above mentioned districts.
Impact of the flood on the Education Sector
a. Summary Description
The July 2010 floods affected 1,663 children of 0-18 years old in Cantemir (279), Hincesti
(1077), Nisporeni (27), Stefan Voda (62) and Ungheni (218), including 455 children of preschool age. One third of the total number of children are directly affected and have been
displaced, the rest are indirectly affected as their families have lost agricultural land/plots, crops
and other property.30
The localised geographical parameters and the quantitative characteristics of the flood-incurred
damages and losses in the education sector made no significant impact on the national education
system as a whole. However, it deteriorated the situation for the sector in Hincesti, the mostly
affected district, where several educational institutions have been affected directly and indirectly
mainly in Cotul Morii, Sarateni, Obileni and Nemţeni.
The flood occurred at night and during the summer vacation period, so children were not in the
premises at the time of the disaster and there were no casualties. Among the affected 590 schoolage children (Cotul Morii – 147; Sarateni – 70; Obileni - 163, Nemţeni – 210), there were 8
children with special needs (Cotul Morii – 7, Nemţeni -1).
One kindergarten (36 children) and one school (Gymnasium, 147 students) in Cotul Morii village
(Hincesti district) were completely destroyed by the flooded waters, as the whole village (512
houses) was settled in a vulnerable flood prone valley along the Prut River. Teachers (13) and
other school personnel (11) of Cotul Morii Gymnasium (total 36) and 12 kindergarten teachers
are under threat to lose their job in the education sector as the village and educational institutions
no longer exist.
No other public educational establishments (buildings or assets) in the flooded districts had any
direct impact of the natural disaster, though being used as a temporary shelter (Obileni and
Nemţeni Gymnasiums; students hostel of Hincesti College) for the evacuees, rescuers, army,
resettled population, the school premises are disarranged and need to be renovated and put in
order before the new school year starts on 1 September.
30
Information of the Ministry of Education, August 10, 2010
46
b. Damages and Losses
Cotul Morii Gymnasium and kindergarten: The buildings, all assets, furniture, equipment, books
have been damaged and lost.
Sarateni Gymnasium is affected indirectly as 50 out of 70 school children are from the families
whose houses were flooded and they will be resettled. Twenty school-age children will remain in
the village; there is a Ministry decision not to open this school for the next term. The building of
the Sarateni Gymnasium was an old military construction re-profiled as a school with rundown
furniture and school assets. Demolition of this building is also an option, though it will require
additional unforeseen costs. A transportation fee is also applied to the losses, as there will be a
need to buy a bus or mini-van to transport the 20 school-aged children to a new destination
school in a nearby village (up to 10 km).
Teachers and other personnel employed in the educational sector in Cotul Morii (36) and
Sarateni (14) are at risk of losing their job because of the flood impact, and there is a need to
consider their redeployment to other educational institutions as well as their resettlement options
(flat/house lease or purchase fees) to villages where additional classes are planned to be opened.
Only 3 teachers out of 13 (Cotul Morii Gymnasium) have been able to find new positions as of
now. There is no certainty about the employment of all the affected teachers and educational
institution employees: as a result of the floods, they may fall into unemployed category, and
unemployment benefits will be paid.
The Government is considering the construction of a new Cotul Morii village, the budget of
15,000,000 MDL is estimated for construction of the kindergarten, primary school and
gymnasium, including playgrounds for different age groups. For 2010/2011 school year the
resettled children will be distributed among the available nearby schools and transportation for
some of them is to be arranged.
Children and their families have lost all their belongings, including clothes, food stock,
household utilities, books, etc. It is planned that the Government will bear the expenses (through
the education sector) of free meals at school; pay one-time compensation; provide different
humanitarian assistance and build/buy houses; arrange the rehabilitation at the summer camps
and temporary shelter.
c. Summary: Damages and Losses Table
Category
Destroyed Cotul Morii school
Destroyed Cotul Morii kindergarten
Demolishment of Sarateni Gymnasium
Cost of free meal at school for 590 floodaffected children
Cost of temporary shelter/camping for
children
Effects of disasters
(Million Lei)
Damages Losses
x*
x
X
0.6
(per year)
X
Ownership
Total
x
x
x
0.6
(per
year)
Public Private
x
x
-
x
x
0.6
47
Construction
of
new
educational
institutions
Cost of repair of educational premises
used as temporary shelter
Construction of 2 playgrounds, 2 sport
grounds and school yard in Obileni,
Nemteni
Refurbishing of existing premises for
accommodation of kindergarten in
Nemteni (including WASH)
Creation of conditions for intake of the
resettled
children
into
Obileni
Gymnasium: connection to the heating
system of the 3 classrooms; provide
furniture for 3 classrooms
Transportation to/from school of 20
children (Sarateni)
Housing fees for redeployed teachers
Total
* X – no available data found
x
15.0
15.0
15.0
X
x
x
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
0.65
0.65
0.65
0.29
0.29
0.29
X
x
x
18.94
18.94
18.94
-
-
-
Human Recovery
a. Impact on Basic Needs and Services
The main set of response measures in regard to the impact of floods on the education sector is
focusing on meeting children’s right for education and development and providing the floodstricken children with the access to other educational institutions preventing the separation of the
families. There is a very high risk for the 6 children from flood-affected single-parent households
(Cotul Morii) to be placed to the Boarding School in Carpineni, so the options of family-type
home, guardianship or foster care should be explored. The Ministry is also keeps an option open
of accommodating a group of 50-70 children at the same Boarding School at the beginning of the
school year in case their families have no permanent/temporary place to live.
There is no final solution yet about the distribution of school-children among the available
schools, as the resettlement plans are not clear. The majority of families will remain within
Hincesti region and preliminary planning for intake of additional students to Gymnasiums
(Obileni, Hincesti, Nemţeni, Leuseni) and pre-school children from 3 affected villages to a
kindergarten in Obileni has been undertaken by district educational authorities and the Ministry
of Education. Additional funding will be provided from the state budget for free meals and books
for all flood affected children.
A monitoring system for collecting data on displaced children for informed decision-making is in
place to track the families with children, clarify their resettlement plans and propose options for
48
school/kindergarten placement, though data is often inconsistent, not disaggregated by gender,
different age groups, family type, etc.
b. Capacities
Strategising on ”Building Back Better,” the national and local authorities are using the
opportunity to renovate and modernise the rundown educational facilities and improve the
facilities and conditions for students, teachers and pre-school children to meet a criteria of childfriendly and hazard-resistant standards for reconstruction of schools, and also addressing
children’s learning/teaching needs, as the majority of buildings have long-lasting problems with
sanitation, running water supply, heating, sport and play grounds, furniture, educational
equipment, and catering facilities. A safe and secure learning environment that promotes the
protection and well-being of students should be ensured for all children.
The distance to school might have a solution of launching a homeschoolhome ”School Bus
Line” between Sarateni – Obileni, as the Sarateni Gymnasium might be closed due to the small
amount of students left in the village (20) and the emergency state of the school building. The
bus line could be expanded to other villages, based on students’ enrolment and living
destinations.
Extra not-in-use premises for the educational institutions (Obileni and Nemţeni Gymnasiums)
may be considered for renovation and re-profiled for day-care centre/services with recreational
and teaching activities and a kindergarten.
Psychosocial and health services for children and teachers are integrated in the educational
response. Psychosocial assistance for children and their families are to be addressed by school
psychologists (who are now available in limited numbers).
Life skills education/activities and life saving information, with a focus on disaster risk
reduction, should be age-targeted and included into both formal and non-formal education. Safe
school construction assessments are to be initiated by the educational authorities. All educational
establishments for children regularly undergo assessments on risk resilience.
Recovery and Reconstruction
a. Education Sub-Sector Strategy for Recovery and Reconstruction
Girls and boys, including preschool-age children and children with special needs, have access to
quality education opportunities and appropriate life-saving skills programs and information about
the emergency. A safe and secure learning and recreational environment that promotes the
protection and well-being of children should be ensured for all.
b. Needs by Sub Sectors and by Ownership
All identified needs are in public sector.
c. Recovery and Reconstruction Plan
Subsector: Education
Outcome: sub-sector recovers to pre-flood level
49
Priority Activities
Baseline
Construction
of
kindergarten, primary
school and gymnasium
(incl. playgrounds for
different age groups) in
a new Cotul Morii
village. Duration: Sept.
2010 - Sept. 2011
Reconstruction
and
repair (including water
supply) of the available
premises at Nemteni
Gymnasium
for
kindergarten
Duration: Sept 2010 –
Dec 2010
Demolished by the
flood Cotul Morii
Gymnasium (147
students)
and
Kindergarten (36
kids) are to be
rebuilt in a new
location.
To meet ECD
standards
relocation
of
Nemteni
kindergarten to the
school premises is
more
costeffective
&
feasible
than
reconstruction of
the old building.
As a Government
measure to assist
the flood affected
families
with
children.
There are nonutilized premises
at
Obileni
Gymnasium that
with
small
reconstruction and
furnishing could
serve
as
3
classrooms needed
for
additional
students.
Lack of arranged
child friendly play
and sport grounds
around the schools
Public
Private
/ Needs
December
2010
to Needs
31, June
2012
to
30,
Public
15,000,000 MDL
Public
Providing free meal at
school for 590 floodPublic
affected children
Duration: Sept 2010 –
May 2011
Creation of conditions
for intake of the
Public
resettled children into
Obileni Gymnasium:
a) connection to the
heating system of the 3
classrooms
b) provide furniture for
3 classrooms
Duration: Sep 2010 Dec 2010
Construction
of
2
playgrounds, 2 sport
grounds and school
yard in affected villages
(Obileni,
Nemteni).
Duration: Sept. 2010 Nov. 2010
Opening of schools in Children from the
1,200,000 MDL
600,000 MDL
Per child per school year:
6 MDL х 170 дней = 1,020 MDL
a) 500,000 MDL
b) 150,000 MDL
(50,000х3)
120,000 MDL
50
the afternoon with
recreational
and
didactical activities, and
a
hot
meal
for
vulnerable
children
(Obileni, Nemteni).
Duration: Sept 2010 May 2011
Ensure transportation
to school for displaced
children who cannot
attend school close to
home/relocation
(Sarateni – Obileni):
а) 2 school buses
б) leasing of a school
bus for 1 year
Duration: Sept 2010 –
June 2010
Cash education grants
for 1,208 children.
2 distributions: August
2010, August 2011.
Provision of 10 Early
Childhood
Development kits (each
for 50 children at one
time).
Duration: Sept. 2010
TOTAL:
vulnerable families
could benefit from
the creation of
such centre with
hot
meal,
recreation
and
developmental
activities
The
distance
between
the
villages and school
may
cause
problem
for
children to attend
classes
No
bus
line
meeting
the
criteria “from door
to door” is in place
and if organized,
could
reduce
safety risks to
children on the
way
to
from
school.
Poor
families
affected by the
flood are in need
of resources for
children to be
prepared by Sept 1
To enhance ECD
and support preschool
children
having shortage in
educational
and
recreational means
Public
20,000,000 MDL
Public
a) 200, 000 MDL
b) 90, 000 MDL
n/a
1,000,000 MDL
Public
60,000 MDL
38,920,000 MDL
51
Annex 9: Health and Nutrition
Background
The health system is made up of personal31 and public32 health services, the latter having also
the power to promote activities designed to influence the actions of other sectors to address
social, environmental and economic health-related indicators, as well as to prevent and manage
public health emergencies33.
Prior to the flood, health care in the affected districts of Cantemir, Hincesti, Nisporeni, Ungheni,
Cahul and Briceni was provided by the following public medical-sanitary institutions: 5 DHs, 5
PHCs, 5 FDCs, 62 HCs, 130 FDOs, 72 HOs, 5 EHCSs and 19 EHCUs; also by 1 private hospital
and 51 individual outpatient settings. The staff is made up of 864 doctors and 2,790 nurses. The
total number of population served in all the 6 districts was 570,500 people, including 31,816
under-5-age children.34
Currently the nutritional policies implemented in Moldova focus on promoting breastfeeding,
reducing micronutrient deficiencies, and increasing access for pregnant women and under-5-age
children to micronutrients by providing them with free iron and folic acid35. The nutritional
status of children is monitored by the primary health care workers in accordance with the
Ministry of Health standards.
Impact of the Flood on the Sector
In affected areas in the districts of Cantemir, Cahul Ungheni, Nisporeni and Briceni the number
and type of medical institutions has not changed, continuing to work in normal regime. In
Hincesti, prior to the flood there were 4 primary healthcare institutions serving over 6,000
people. As a result of the disaster, the activity of 3 rural healthcare institutions was stopped,
reducing the district’s access to health care services as a result of damages to the physical
infrastructure.
During the flood, the health care in Hincesti district was organized and provided by opening 3
additional health care units at the Health Centre in Nemteni village inside the premises of the
gymnasium from Obileni village and of the gymnasium from Nemteni village. Four teams of
doctors and nurses, who were providing healthcare 24/7, were working in the medical units; two
31
Primary Health Care; Emergency Health Care in Emergencies; Specialized Hospital and Outpatient Health Care.
Centre of Public Health.
33
Law on State Surveillance of Public Health no. 10 of 3 February 2009.
34
Public Health in Moldova, 2009.
35
MoH and NHIC Order no.545/215-A of 30 December 2009 on drugs compensated from the Compulsory
Healthcare Insurance Fund.
32
52
additional health care units were opened at the Construction College and Polytechnic School in
Hincesti, where over 250 affected people were relocated. Cantemir district is opening a medical
unit in additional premises in the village gymnasium in Tiganca.
The provision of an appropriate response by the Ministry of Health36 and local public
administration authorities from Hincesti, Cantemir, Cahul, Ungheni, Nisporeni and Briceni
flood-stricken districts has contributed to diminishing the damages on health and food safety for
the affected people. Thus, the rate of acute diarrheic diseases has registered no growth in
connection with the consequences caused by the disaster in the flood-stricken settlements as of
late July 2010. The morbidity indices constituted 13.8 per 100,000 people in the last week of
July 2010, practically at the level of the same period of 2009 (14.4 per 100,000). 37 1,253
children aged 3 to 15 years old were vaccinated against Hepatitis A (Hincesti district – 533
children; Cantemir district – 320; and in Cahul district – 400), the cost which is 338,197.23 Lei.
The 2010 floods have had a negative impact on the health of the population in Hinceşti district:
the prevalence of cardiovascular system diseases increased twice compared with the previous
year and constituted 1,191.4 per 100,000 people; an increase in the number of complications in
patients with sugar diabetes including diabetic coma in 2 persons; and ketoacidosis in 5
persons38. The number of visits to doctors at Nemteni health center increased by 3.5 times
compared with all visits recorded in the first 6 months of 2010 (3,988 visits)39. A total of 753
people with different illnesses have been hospitalised in the Hincesti District Hospital, medical
consultations increased by 25%40. When the flooding began, children aged 1 and under and
pregnant women from socially vulnerable families were evacuated from the affected area and
provided food and lodging41, including people registered with tuberculosis.
Due to the fact that the health care structures are continuously monitoring the nutritional status of
population, especially of young children, no cases of acute malnutrition among the affected
population have been registered. In addition, the nutrition of the affected population in all
affected settlements was organised. It was more problematic was to provide children aged 6-36
months old with complementary food appropriate to their age. However, no nutritional damages
and losses or cases of acute malnutrition at the moment have been identified.
b. Damages and losses of physical infrastructure and medical equipment/furniture have been
registered only in Hincesti district: 3 medical institutions were affected by the flood, in particular
- FDO Cotul Morii, FDO Obileni, HO Sarateni being flooded to different extent. As a result of
intensive use in the response to the floods, the medical equipment of the bacteriological
36
MoH Directive no.331-d of 8 July 2010 on health care provision for population in flood-stricken areas.
Data of the National Public Health Centre.
38
Data of Hincesti FDC.
39
Data of FDC in Hincesti district.
40
Data of Hincesti DH.
41
A total of 19 under-1-age children and 18 pregnant women.
37
53
laboratory of Public Health Centre Hincesti was out of order, costing - 344,200 Lei; UAZ 3962
ambulance from EHCS Hincesti was completely damaged -180,000 Lei; extra expenditures as a
result of disaster-response related activities totalled to 2.677million Lei42.
c. Summary table of damages and losses
Disaster Effects (million Lei)*
Property
Damages
Losses
Total
Public
Private
Fully damaged medical institutions
FDO Cotul Morii village
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.39
0.39
0.02
0.02
0.18
0.18
0.34
0.34
2.68
2.68
3.81
3.81
Partially damaged medical institutions
FDO in Obileni village
0.2
FDO in Sarateni
0.02
0.19
Partially damaged transportation and medical equipment
Ambulance UAZ-3962
0.18
Medical equipment of the Public
Health Centre in Hincesti
0.34
Extra expenditures in response to public health emergencies
Medical-sanitary institutions
and public health institutions
Total
2.68
0.94
2.87
* Note: Costs are estimated according to the accounting statements of Mayoralties and medical
institutions. In reality the compensation of damages and losses will cost more. See needs c) Plan
for Recovery and Reconstruction.
Human Recovery
a) To avoid short-term negative impact on the population's access to quality health care
services and the smooth functioning of the medical institutions, financial sources should
42
Data of FDC, DH, EHCS, PHC Hincesti, FDC Cantemir and National Centre of Public Health.
54
be identified to cover the expenditures incurred for medical specialists, secondary
technical staff, construction of new medical institutions, provision of medical equipment,
and modern means of communication and transport.
Access to drinking water is a serious problem for the population and it is necessary to identify
policies for improving access to drinking water. In the short-term it is necessary to disinfect both
128 flooded wells (Hincesti, Cantemir districts) and 9 wells (Ungheni district)43, but also all
3,630 wells and 13,800 ha of flooded land in all affected districts.
In the medium- and long-term, the flood may have a negative impact on the nutritional status of
population, especially of young children, due to the loss of agricultural products and livestock by
households.
Although no significant human losses have been registered, it might seem that the demographic
impact would not be negative. However, in the long-term there might be a decrease of birth rate
due to the poor economic and social conditions of the families in the settlements mostly stricken
by the flood: Cotul Morii and Sarateni villages.
b) To ensure the quality of primary health care available to the population, it is necessary to
build the demolished medical infrastructure, and modernise existing outdated physical
infrastructure in the rural areas that do not have water, sewage and heating systems. The
most pressing problem is insufficient number of available family doctors (e.g. in
Cantemir district 68% of medical personnel is unavailable).
The capacity of territorial public health centres to provide health protection, coordinate activities
for prevention and management of public health emergencies is also limited due to a shortage of
human resources, lack of rapid diagnostic tests and modern diagnostic equipment, depleted
reserves of disinfectants, reagents, transport, and insufficient knowledge of public health
emergency management.
Further, the lack of local mass-media, radio and television stations in Hincesti, Cantemir and
Cahul districts, as well as insufficient public awareness campaigns, health information leaflets
and brochures limits the population’s access to information.
Recovery and Reconstruction
a) The strategy for health sector recovery and reconstruction in the affected areas is to
restore and modernize the physical infrastructure of the medical institutions, provide for
human resources and transport, ensure the economic and physical accessibility of drugs,
food safety and nutrition, particularly for young children.
43
Data of CPHs in Hincesti, Cantemir and Ungheni districts.
55
Measures and methods of strategy implementation will focus on the identification of policies to
recover the physical infrastructure of medical institutions; attract human resources, including
Medical University graduates for 1-year residential work in disadvantaged geographical areas
and institutions experiencing a deficit of human resources; provision of medical equipment and
transport; further monitoring of nutritional status of the population, particularly of pregnant
women and children; supply free food for children 6-36 months; and carrying out public
information campaigns about flood consequences on health.
b) Short-term needs of the health sector include the construction of a primary health care
institution for displaced communities (Cotul Morii and Sarateni villages in Hincesti
district), and providing it with equipment; the provision of disinfectants and consumables
to ensure the protection of public health; covering unplanned extra expenditures of the
medical institutions incurred as a result of flood debris removal; procurement of food for
young children; carrying out a public information campaign on the negative impact of
floods on health (informing about the harm of mold, moisture in the room, the
consumption of agricultural products from the flooded areas, using flood water for
drinking and cooking, and how to protection against contagious diseases).
For the long term there is a need to provide the medical institutions with medical equipment;
build and equip a FDO in Obileni village in an area which is in the flood zone; provide medical
institutions with family doctors and nurses; and train health professionals in public health
emergencies management.
c) Plan for Recovery and Reconstruction
Subsector: Health and Nutrition
Result: recovery and improvements of population health and nutrition up to a level registered
prior to the flood
Priority Actions
Basic Factors
Public/
Private
Build a primary healthcare
institution for displaced
localities and provide it with
equipment.
Access to health care was
interrupted in 2
settlements, Cotul Morii
and Sarateni villages in
Hincesti district.
Public
Disinfect wells and springs 3,630 wells and springs
Needed by Needed
31
by
30
December June 2012
2010
4,000,000
MDL
Public
56
in all affected districts
are contaminated.
70,000
MDL
Disinfect land in all affected 13,800 ha of land are
districts**.
flooded
Public
Distribute a consignment of
900 hygienic packages to
flood-stricken people.
Public
About 900 households
were affected by flood.
11,730,000
MDL
70,000MD
L
(October
2010)
Public information
campaign on WASH
Population in five floodstricken districts is not
informed
Public
Procure baby-food for 6-36
months old affected
children
400 young children (aged
6-36 months old) in the
affected localities might
need support in nutrition
Public
Cover the unplanned extra
expenditures of the medicalsanitary institutions and
public health institutions.
Six medical-sanitary
institutions and public
health institutions have
incurred excessive extra
expenditures.
Public
Restore the damaged
medical equipment and
transport
16 items of medical
equipment and 1
ambulance went out of
order
Public
Provide medical workers,
including Medical
University graduates for 1year residentiat.
Insufficient number of
medical workers (needs
are varied between 56%
in Hincesti district and
68% in Cantemir district)
Public
1,200,000
MDL
1,500,000
MDL
2,677,200
MDL (See
details in
the Annex)
431,000
MDL
Budget for Budget for
medical
medical
education
education
57
Build a FDO in Obileni
village and provide it with
medical equipment.
Present office of the FDO
in Obileni village it is
located in an area at risk
of being flooded.
Public
Train health specialists in
public health emergencies
management.
Training of about 300
medical institutions’
managers.
Public
Procure transport and
modern means of
communication.
10 medical institutions do
not have transport and
modern means of
communication.
Public
3,300,000
MDL
2,016,000
MDL
Total
3,345,000
MDL
21,978,200
MDL
8,661,000
MDL
** Note: This activity must be coordinated with the productive sector
Structure of extra expenditures of the medical-sanitary institutions and public health institutions
incurred in response to public health emergencies.
Measures carried out
Drugs and consumables provided to victims
for treatment in outpatient conditions
Cost in Lei
271,800 MDL
Fuel
96,500 MDL
Treatment of patients in hospital
1,550,400 MDL
Measures the State supervision of public
health and hepatitis A vaccination
496,400 MDL
Other costs
262,100 MDL
Total
58
2,677,200 MDL
Source: FDC, DH, EHCS and PHC Hincesti, FDC in Cantemir and National Centre of Public
Health
59
Annex 10: Social Protection
Background
The social sector in Moldova is composed of social protection (pensions to elderly and persons
with disabilities, social assistance benefits (nominative categorical compensations44 and targeted
social assistance) and social services. According to the existing regulations and legislation in this
field, the social protection system is designed to target the most vulnerable groups of the
population by delivering a set of cash benefits and services to those eligible for the social
assistance: the elderly, families with children, persons with disabilities, veterans, and poor
households with less than 530 leu per month income. Ajutor Social is a poverty-targeted cash
benefit programme that combines means and proxy testing45.
The July 2010 floods along the river Prut resulted in evacuation of 3,114 persons (1,293
families), including 614 children, from 1,084 flooded houses and adjacent area. This increased
the number of vulnerable individuals and families and placed immediate resettlement
requirements for food, water, sanitary and non-food supplies, compensations, and psycho-social
support. The flood-stricken population is rural and relied predominantly upon revenues from the
agricultural produce they grew on their land; almost all of it was lost in the flooding.
The district and local-level social workers are at the forefront of assessing the needs and meeting
the increased demands of the additional social assistance needed. The capacities of the existing
social assistants (19 persons for the whole affected area, about 1 social worker per village) are
insufficient to provide comprehensive and efficient support to the affected population.
At the district level, the monitoring and registration system of the people who will most probably
now apply (and qualify) for targeted cash assistance does not have sufficient capacity to process
applications, causing a burden for the understaffed social sector units of the district
administration, as well as for those severely affected by floods.
44
Nominative compensations are granted for the support of vulnerable population, helping them
pay utility costs (heating, hot and cold water supply, natural gas for cooking and heating, sewage
services, electricity, gas – in tanks – for cooking, purchasing of coal and wood for heating). Nominative
compensations are granted based on category principle .
45
It is targeted to the poor through the assessment of household income and living standards, The amount of
benefit is contingent on an income gap between a household monthly income and the Guaranteed Minimum
Income (GMI) that should be set each year in the State Budget law. The program is administered through the
network of the Rayon level Social Assistance Departments (SADs) with the help of social assistants who are
responsible for client intake in the communities while all other categorical benefits [16] were administered by the
National Social Insurance House (NSIH). Reference: Law on Ajutor Social no 133 dd 13 June 2008.
60
Impact of the flood on the Sector
Keeping with the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family’s strategy, the systems at the
district level are ready to implement the most urgently-needed actions, including the provision of
food and non-food aid to the flood-stricken population, registering of all beneficiaries for
different short-term emergency and recovery assistance.
Persons who have been receiving Ajutor Social and nominative categorical compensations
before the flooding have continued to receive it afterwards. It is expected, however, due to the
loss of main sustenance (agricultural land) and loss of property, that many additional persons and
households will apply – and qualify – for targeted social assistance.
The flood-affected families in Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Causeni, Hincesti, Nisporeni, Ungheni
Districts were encouraged to apply for targeted social assistance. To do so, all of them need to go
through an established process of registration and assessment for the eligibility qualification for
social assistance. Though the system of social assistance continues functioning in the emergency
mode – ensuring the registration and documentation of all the flood victims to enable their full
access to the one-time compensation, food and non-food supplies, resettlement and relocation—
it does not meet the increased operational needs. The staff, also affected by the flood themselves,
is overworked, does not have much ability to provide clear and consistent information to clients
on the beyond immediate needs, and on ordinary procedures of filing applications.
In regard to the urgent inclusion of newly vulnerable families into the social protection database,
the Government should develop a disaster risk mitigation strategy that includes capacity building
for the local units, including social assistance (in the mostly flood-affected Hincesti district in 4
villages - Cotul-Morii, Nemţeni, Obileni, Sărăteni - 42% of the population is affected, including
394 retirees, 531 children, 77 disabled, 31 families with 3 or more children).
At the initial stage of the disaster, the social protection sector and districts’ administrations
distributed over 322.12 tons of emergency aid (i.e., foodstuff, personal use items, hygienic
products and essential goods) to the affected and displaced population. (Shortly after the disaster,
as one-time measure, the Government announced that every affected person is entitled to a onetime cash compensation of 500MDL. Though majority of villagers have collected the
compensation, there are concerns that some most vulnerable families have not received neither
in-kind nor cash assistance.
During the evacuation, the social protection section of the Hincesti district provided shelter for
displaced school-age children from the flooded villages Cotul-Morii (70), Nemţeni (81), Obileni
(19), Sărăteni (55) at the summer camps „Alunelul” (Dănceni village), „Cireşarii”, „Luceafărul”,
„Camping”, „Zâmbetul” (camps of Defense Ministry in Vadul-lui-Vodă city), „Codreanaca”
(Hânceşti city). Twenty-three pre-school children from Cotul-Morii and Sărăteni were
61
accomodated at the kindergarten with an around-the-clock program in Leuşeni village in
Hânceşti district. Some children have remained with their families, usually placed in host kinship
families, or host families in neibouring villages.
The workload on the social workers46 has not increased as a result of the floods. Home services
previously provided to recipients have instead stopped, as people were evacuated or resettled
mainly within their districts. Before and after floods, 16 persons are receiving home support
services. The social workers may need additional training to be able to assess the psychoemotional state of the flood victims, and, if needed to refer the ones most seriously affected, to
additional health and counseling services, as social assistants are neither trained nor capable of
providing psychosocial counseling. However, they could and should be trained—together with
educational personnel and health personnel—to provide basic psycho-social support after
emergencies to all affected.
No abuses against children and women were registered during the initial stage of the disaster, as
reported by the district social sector head. Children who were sent to summer camps were sent
with parental consent. Many families choose to remain together and did not separate, even
temporarily, from their children.
Physical damage to a building that housed a social protection unit occurred in Cotul Morii; the 2
staff were temporarily relocated to the offices in Obileni village.
Human Recovery
Field observations, meetings and discussions with the affected people, social sector authorities
and social assistance providers informed priority areas for mitigating the negative flood impacts
on the most vulnerable groups and the recovery of poor rural communities: housing, social
assistance, employment scheme, psychosocial support to the flood-affected and displaced
population.
The Government responded to the housing needs by pledging to build new rural houses for the
flood victims, taking into account the wishes of displaced people. The government has
committed to build 700 new homes for those who lost their houses in the floods. This long-term
costly programme affects the development of all other sectors in the flooded communities,
including provision of social protection, assistance, and services.
People who were receiving nominative social assistance or Ajutor Social (targeted social
assistance) before the floods had continued receiving it after the floods. The recipients of
targeted social assistance, however, will significantly increase in the next few months, due to
46
Persons who provide in-home support to elderly (not the social assistants who assess the needs
and help access cash benefits scheme)
62
extensive loss of increased vulnerability and poverty (i.e. loss of personal land, livestock and
property).
Employment programs, like active inclusion in public works on reconstruction, could decrease
the need for additional benefits, while the well promoted Ajutor Social program re-directs the
cash benefits flows towards the most vulnerable groups.
In order to assist those who have lost their livelihood, the Ministry of Labor and Social
Protection wishes to strengthen the existing social services in the existing community social
centers (”Pro-Femina”, “Viitorul”, Perspectiva”, „Brânduşa”, „Amigo” in Hincesti district),
medical facilities (Ghioltosu village, Cantemir district), and educational institutions (Obileni,
Hincesti district). Psychosocial support to families and children will be provided by NGOs in all
affected areas during the first four months of the school year. It will also include “on-the-jobtraining” of educators allowing them to provide such services in the future, if needed.
It is important to develop a response mechanism and instruments for disaster management
emphasizing the potential social consequences of those living in the affected areas. In particular,
while there is an obvious impact on those who are directly affected by flooding, there is also
substantial impact on the hosting families who bear the burden of hosting displaced families,
often with assets and livestock saved from flooding.
There is understanding among the administrative staff in Social Assistance Departments that the
recovery phase is will start with initial planning for medium- and long-term. However, most of
their time is being allocated to coping with current emergency needs response and there is no
clear vision on the further steps required for their village or district social protection sector.
To the extent possible the local administrations (Mayor’s Office, District Council) are delivering
available information by printing out black-and-white handouts and posting them on doors, trees,
and bulletin boards. There is always a great demand for clarifying information or instructions.
During the public consultations, a need for improvement of information delivery on of the C4D,
life-skills or sanitary measures guidance alerting on the stress management, or on the availability
of the working places , the date of upcoming donations delivery, other well-timed information
was reported.
A complaint mechanism has been activated, where 2 representatives of the Ministry of Interior’s
“Fraud Unit” are reviewing complaints from citizens who claim not to have received assistance
they were entitled to (in-kind, cash assistance, etc.), in each affected locality. Dozens of
complaints/requests for belated payment of entitlements were received, 14 of which were
processed. An increase in belated requests for immediate assistance is expected, since many of
the most vulnerable families are just now finding out about their entitlements.
Recovery and Reconstruction
63
Subsector: Social protection
Outcome: sub-sector recovers to pre-flood level
Priority Activities
Baseline
Public
Private
Individual assessment
of
all
affected
families
and
individuals
No survey on affected Public
population needs in
post-disaster
social
assistance
/ Needs
to Needs to June
December
30, 2012
31, 2010
100,000
MDL
Duration: 1 month
(September 2010)
Support to local
authorities to identify
the most vulnerable
families who might
not have received any
assistance and to help
the
access
their
entitlements (reachout teams)
Dozens of complaints Public
about entitlements not
being received and
requests for belated
payment
of
emergency
entitlements
were
launched.
Training
of
community’s social
workers and staff of
the Social Assistance
Sectors in provision
of
psycho-social
support to children
and families in the
post-disaster
situations
Social
Assistance Public
Sectors staff, social
workers do not have
specific skills in
provision
of
psychological
and
social support in the
post-disaster
situations
Reconstruction
of The offices have been Public
two offices of social flooded
workers in the village
of Cotul Morii
40,000 MDL
500,000 MDL
100,000 MDL
64
Providing
psychosocial support to
flood victims and
affected families
Over 3,000 persons Public/private
have been evacuated
and uprooted, many
among them elderly
and children. They
have difficulty coping
with extensive loss
they have undergone,
especially elderly and
parents of young
children.
Information
campaign on stress
management
entitlements /social
safety net benefits,
domestic
violence,
risk
of
human
trafficking. Duration:
18
months
(September
2010March 2012)
People in the affected Public
area are stressed and
many are coping
through
escapism
mechanisms.
1,000,000
MDL
1,000,000MDL
1,600,000
MDL
1,600,000
MDL
Persons who in the
past
have
not
benefited from social
safety nets are not
aware
about
the
entitlements.
Additional
cash Affected
citizens Public
assistance (one-off) have received one
for affected families
500 MDL per person
assistance. They are
expected to receive
two more tranches
Creation
of
multifunctional
integrated
social
services center
in
Obileni
300,000 MDL
At present, there is no Public
centre
providing
services for children,
disabled and elderly.
The Centre could be
used
to
provide
services to vulnerable
citizens, those with
4,800,000
MDL
65
disability, children at
risk
and
elderly
foremost, and could
cover several villages
around Obileni
Creation of a day care
centre for children at
risk in Ghioltosu
village
(Cantemir
rayon).
Ghioltosu village had Public
a significant number
of
extremely
vulnerable families
whose vulnerability
has increased after
the floods. Children
in these families are
at increased risks.
Introducing
additional operators
[one per Rayon] for
Management
Information System
of Ajutor Social.
There is a need to Public
deploy people to
support intake of
applications
which
will
particularly
increase
in
the
affected area over the
next 3 months.
70,000 MDL
Prevention
of
separation of children
from their families,
including
where
population
is
displaced. Strengthen
gate
keeping
commission
and
ensure that additional
foster care or family
type
homes
are
available
in
the
affected
communities.
There is a risk of Public/
separation of children Private
from their biological
family and in order to
prevent
their
institutionalization, it
is necessary to create
and
development
alternative
care
services [family type
homes and foster
care].
1,000,000
MDL
1,800,000
MDL
70,000 MDL
Duration:
66
Sept
2012
2010-March
13,980,000 MDL
TOTAL :
67
Annex 11: Environment
Background
The Prut River supplies 16% of surface water and flows along the western border of Moldova
with Romania for 695 km (out of a total length of 976 km) before flowing into Danube River.
The average annual flow varies from 85 m3/s in the north to 110 m3/s at its confluence with the
Danube. In the mid part of the river valley is relatively narrow with adjoining large terraces. In
the lower part, the river has a large floodplain and is 6 km wide. The river channel is sinuous,
with a width of about 60-80 m in the lower part, and depth around 2-4 m and about 2-3 m high
banks.
The climatic and soil conditions allow the Prut River floodplain to have a diversity of forest and
wetland ecosystems. There are 8072ha of forests and about 14.000 ha of natural lakes and
wetlands in the flood area. In 1991, the "Prut de Jos" nature reserve with a total area of 1,691 ha
was created, which includes Beleu Lake (800 ha) and areas adjacent to the river’s meadow.
Along with the neighboring natural lake Manta, this reserve represents a unique ecosystem,
considered the last natural wetland floodplain in the lower Danube region. Another
internationally important natural habitat is located in the mid Prut River Valley, the “Padurea
Domneasea” forest nature reserve, with an area of 6,500ha and represents a unique ecosystem
composed of meadow oak forest and wetlands. Both nature reserves support globally vulnerable
and endangered species of fish, birds, and mammals, and are internationally important for water
wolf birds, as it is located within one of major international migratory corridor.
Being a protection zone (as a border zone of former USSR), the Prut river valley—and
especially its flood zone—was not subject to significant human impact. Most of the natural
habitats, including its forests, were kept intact. Furthermore, with only few exceptions, there
were no potential sources of pollution (e.g., warehouses of agrichemicals, gasoline stations
and/or any industrial enterprises). The biggest potential source of river pollution is the oil
exploration site, located in the Northern part of the “Prutul de Jos” nature reserve. At the same
time, large areas of river meadow were drained with construction of irrigation schemes. In order
to reduce the flood risks in the river valley in the mid 60s and 70s, a water flow regulation dam
at Costesti-Stinca and flood protection dykes were built along the river starting from its
midcourse, which until the current (2010) flooding have successfully protected the floodplain
from inundations.
Impact of the flood on the Sector
Summary description. The environmental impacts of May-July 2010 floods are low to moderate
and largely related to the following: a) the dispersion of household wastes into the Prut river; (b)
inundation and contamination of community water wells, including deep water wells; (c)
destruction of fish spawning grounds, breeding and feeding areas; and, (d) impacts on solid
wastes land fields. The damage to natural ecosystems and important habitats (on forests and
wetlands) was not significant. The long term impacts during recovery and reconstruction time
will be mostly dealing with: (i) solid waste and debris management; (ii) sourcing of construction
materials; (iii) recovery and improving of forest ecosystems, as well as reproduction of fish
68
resources; (iv) needs to strengthen the EIA and environmental management capacities of national
and district environmental authorities.
The available data shows the following were flooded: (a) about 386 (from 3289 of total number)
of shallow water wells causing their pollution and reducing availability of drinking water supply
in the flooded villages; (b) about 4661 ha of forests and 4865 ha of protected areas. The flooding
affected the quality of forests causing their degradation, especially that of the new forest
plantations; (c) oil exploration site at Valeni village. Due to earlier warnings, all 18 extraction
wells were closed on time and thus fully avoided water pollution; (d) as most of solid waste land
fields are not located in the floodplains, only limited areas of them were flooded (3.85 ha from
about 31 ha), causing some environmental impacts by polluting river’s water. The only one
waste disposal site that has been flooded totally and is located at Cotul Morii village; (e)
similarly, as most of storage of agricultural chemicals is not located in the floodplains, only one
emptied warehouse (the obsolete pesticides were removed from there in 2005), and its
surrounding area with a surface of 0.3 ha was flooded at the same village, causing some chemical
water pollution. Insignificant water pollution was potentially also caused by the inundation of
various small scale household containers and barrels used for storing kerosene, of lubricants and
other petroleum products, and for different household chemicals.
Generally no serious contamination resulted from the flooding. Based on analyses conducted by
the Hydrometeorological Service laboratory, the water quality in the Prut River is within the
permissible limits; all pollutants do not exceed the maximum concentrations allowed for the
fishery ponds. At the same time, pollution may increase once the water will recede.
The flooding caused serious impacts on the Prut river fish resources. Most of the fish spawning
grounds, breeding and feeding areas were destroyed. Valuable fish species migrated to the
meadows of the river and, after the waters withdraw, will remain in newly-formed separate
ponds and lakes. Once the water level in these temporary water reservoirs decreases in the
conditions with high temperatures, the fish will die causing considerable losses to river
ecosystem. The flooding also caused serious impacts and damage to forest resources and
especially to newly planted areas.
Environmental damages and losses
Direct environmental damages are the following:
a. Damages to river fish resources. As mentioned, the flooding caused considerable damage to
fish resources. As a detailed evaluation of this damage at this time it is not possible, based on
previous experience and results of similar exercises during previous flooding it was estimated the
magnitude of this damage is at about MDL 11.0 million.
b. Damage to forest resources. As mentioned above, about 4661 ha of forest area (including
about 500 ha of newly planted areas) was flooded. The long-standing flooding severely affected
new forest plantations. The estimated damage is MDL 6.089.0 million. Furthermore, the
flooding caused also destruction of 40 km of forest roads and of two bridges. The estimated
69
direct damage is MDL 0.28 million. Thus the total damage for the forestry sector might be
estimated at MDL 6.369.0 million.
Potential environmental losses might include the following:
a. Management of debris and wastes during recovery and reconstruction stages which might
require additional resources and cause new environmental impacts, including: a)
activities on debris and waste disposal; b) the safety of villagers and workers involved in
demolition activities; c) potential environmental impacts of debris disposal in
inappropriate emergency dumpsites; and d) possible risks from hazardous wastes (e.g.,
from handling asbestos materials). It is estimated that about 30-60% of the debris from
each house can be reused directly in reconstruction. While many villagers will use some
of the debris, the volume of waste that will need to be disposed of outside the village
areas could be significant, reaching tens of thousands of m3. This might imply finding
new disposal areas or a need to increase the capacity of existing landfills. All this would:
(i) increase the costs for rebuilding and for reducing costs of environmental impacts; (ii)
ensuring that disaster-resistant building standards are both developed and enforced as part
of the reconstruction; and (iii) applying environmentally-sound design principles
throughout the reconstruction (e.g., for spatial planning, building construction, energy
supply, water and sanitation).
b. Impact of sourcing reconstruction building materials. Rebuilding and repairing houses,
roads, bridges, etc., will require important supplies of natural resources, e.g., stones, clay
soil, and sand. If managed poorly, accelerated extraction of these resources to meet
increased demand could result in negative environmental impacts. At this stage it is
impossible to have a monetary estimation of the needs in this sector.
c. Forest recovery and reconstruction costs. Taking into account that the long flooding
caused damage to the status of forests, to improve their status it would be necessary to
add sanitary cuttings, replanting, clean-up and maintenance activities. All these activities
would require about MDL 6.0889.0 million. Additionally, in the forestry sector it will be
necessary to restore destroyed roads and bridges, requiring about MDL 0.28 million.
Lastly, about MDL 65.0 thousand is needed to conduct a field survey and preparing a
recovery action plan in the sector.
d. Recovery measures for fish resources. To improve reproduction of fish resources, a
special reproduction Center is proposed, which would require about MDL 2.75 million.
Furthermore, to strengthen fish inspection it is necessary to enforce the existing
legislation to respond to further flooding, about MDL 2.0 million is needed. Finally,
about MDL 65.0 thousand is needed to conduct a field survey and preparing a recovery
action plan in the sector.
e.
Additional costs for conducting environmental assessment for the reconstruction
programs and projects and for strengthening environmental institutions. Reconstruction
requires increased demand for the national and district environmental authorities’
environmental assessment and for environmental management. At the initial recovery
stage, greater administrative costs will be incurred for environmental impact assessment
of new investments, for enforcing environmental standards, and monitoring of mitigation
70
measures, although taking into account the flooded areas are located mostly in two
districts, there will be no necessary for additional financing; all necessary activities will
be supported by the existing financing provided to the State Ecological Inspectorate.
Only for the purpose of providing TA to district environmental authorities and local
councils it would be necessary about MDL 0.1 million (for three seminars at the regional
level which would involve about 75-80 participants).
Summary Damage and Losses Table
Area of damages and losses
Damage to fish resources
Direct damage
Losses
Total
MDL
11.0 MDL
2.75 MDL 13.75
million
million
million
Damage to forest resources (to forest MDL 6.369.0 MDL 6.369.0 MDL
plantations and to forest roads and million
million
12.739.0
bridges)
million
Losses due to additional waste and n/a
No
debris management activities
assessment
Losses due to additional needs for strengthening EA and Environmental Management
capacities
a.
Strengthening
Fish n/a
MDL
2.0 MDL
2.0
Inspection
million
million
b.
Strengthening EA and n/a
MDL
0.1 MDL
0.1
Environmental
Management
million
million
capacities of district authorities
and local councils
Total
MDL
MDL
MDL 28.629
17.369.6511.219.65 – million
million
million
Recovery and Reconstruction
Sectoral Strategy for Recovery and Reconstruction. The volume of the debris to be collected
and construction wastes to be removed, the extent of the fish and forest resources that have been
damaged, and the quantity of agricultural and household pollutants entering into Prut river are
the main environmental problems related to the current flooding. These findings and proposed
measures to address them should be incorporated into long-term restoration and reconstruction
programs to eliminate unacceptable environmental impacts from subsequent flooding.
Specifically, recurring losses and negative intrusions into environmental systems could be
avoided, or at least minimized, by identifying, measuring, and interpreting the magnitude and
significance of environmental impacts associated with flooding. Furthermore, Environmental
Assessment and Management capacities at local level should be improved to ensure
implementation of relevant mitigation measures as well as conducting environmental monitoring
and enforcement activities. This is especially important as per Moldovan legislation there are no
EA special requirements in the case of small scale (re)construction projects and programs.
The immediate recovery measures are related to conducting clean up, maintenance and sanitary
cuttings and replanting activities in the forest sector, as well as measures for increasing
71
reproduction of fish resources. Preliminary recommendations for the environmental dimension of
rehabilitation and reconstruction stage would include: (a) more in-depth assessment of key
impact areas for debris which would include: updating the estimated debris that will require
disposal, environmental evaluation of selected debris dumpsites, assessing options for the further
recycling/processing of debris and implementing programs to minimize waste requiring disposal;
(b) a hazardous waste management assessment (especially for asbestos to be removed) and
develop an action plan for waste management more generally, and in particular for asbestos
burring; (c) consider mechanisms to facilitate the use of sustainable construction materials, to
providing facilities that distributes legally sourced, environmentally-friendly building materials;
(d) conduct an assessment of institutional capacity for EA and of protected areas located in the
Prut river floodplain and propose a series of capacity building activities; (e) revise the existing
regulatory documents in the area of EA and propose relevant amendments to incorporate EIA
requirements and hazards risks assessment within hazards recovery and reconstruction activities,
including in the case of programs and projects involving small scale housing and infrastructure.
Recovery and Reconstruction Plan
The Table below covers all proposed short and medium term recovery and reconstruction
activities as well as in some case long term activities needed for reducing flood risks, specifying
the timeline and the estimated costs in MDL.
Sector: Environment
Outcome: The sector recovers to pre-flood level and improves Environmental Assessment
and Management capacity
Priority Activities
Baseline
Public /
Needs
to Needs to June
Private
December 31, 30, 2012
2010
Conduct
a
field No data on the Public
65.0 thousand MDL 12.739
survey and assess the status of forests (Moldsilva)
MDL
million
status
of
forest as the result of
resources, preparing long
time
and implementing a flooding,
no
recovery action plan
formulated
recovery action
plan
Provide
an No data on the Public
(MoE, 65.0 thousand 2.75
million
assessment of impact status of fish Fish Inspection)
MDL
MDL
of flooding on fish resources and
resources,
prepare damages as the
and implement a result of long
recovery action plan
time flooding,
no formulated
recovery action
plan
72
Develop
and
implement
a
management plan for
Nemteni, Obileni and
Cotul Morii and for
Sarateni villages for
the disposal of debris
and solid waste,
incorporating
recycling and reuse
of them
Conduct an express
hazardous
wastes
assessment
in the
flooded areas and
develop an action
plan
for
their
management,
in
particular
for
asbestos burring.
Apply environmental
assessment
procedures
for
projects
involving
houses and other
infrastructure
(re)construction
Conduct an express
assessment of the
floodplain protected
areas and incorporate
environmental
protection
requirements
into
recovery
plans,
including
capacity
building activities
Extend forest areas in
the Prut river basin in
order
to
ensure
environmental
balance at both local
and national level by
implementing
the
No special plan
and organized
activities
on
debris and solid
waste disposal
and no special
waste
and
debris
recycling
Public/Local
No additional Councils
and costs
district
Environmental
authorities
No assessment
of
existing
hazardous
wastes and no
strategy
for
their
management
Public/District
No additional Environmental
costs
authorities and
Local Councils
No EA in the
case of projects
involving
housing and/or
small
scale
infrastructure
(re)construction
activities
The
specific
environmental
protection
measures
regarding
floodplain
protected areas
are
not
included in the
general
recovery plans
Afforestation
activities
are
implemented at
ad hoc basis
Public/National
No additional No additional
and
district costs
costs
environmental
authorities
Public/Moldsilva, 65.0 thousand No additional
MoE, Ministry of MDL
costs
Construction and
Regional
Development
Public/Moldsilva, Permanently
Local Councils
Permanently
(the costs are at
the level of
about MDL 1520
thousand
per one ha of
afforested land
73
National
Afforestation Plan.
(This is the long term
measure up to 2020 –
to
increase
the
afforested areas in the
country at the level of
13%)
Promote
best There is no a
agricultural practices special plan in
within river basin
this regard – all
activities
are
conducted
sporadically
Integrate nature and There are no so
biodiversity
far basin flood
conservation
risk
concerns into river management
basin
flood
risk plans
management plans.
Revise existing EA The
existing
regulations
and EA regulations
include
hazard do not stipulate
considerations (e.g. specifically
EIAs for recovery EIA
for
projects incorporate recovery
disaster
risk Programs and
assessments).
Projects as well
Stipulate the need for as
not
EIA in the case of specifically
programs
and stipulates
projects
involving disaster risks
small scale housing assessment as
and
infrastructure part of the EIA
activities.
process
Ensure environmental Environmental
protection measures protection
during
the clauses for the
(re)construction
(re)construction
activities are included activities
as part of the usually are not
construction
part
of
contracts.
construction
contracts
Public/Ministry
Permanently/
Permanently/no
of Agriculture, no additional additional costs
MoE, Academy costs
of Science
Public/MoE,
Permanently/no Permanently/
Ministry
of additional costs no additional
Construction and
costs
Regional
Development
Public/MoE,
No additional State Ecological costs
Expertise
Public/ National Permanently/no Permanently/no
and
district additional costs additional costs
environmental
authorities
74