150 route de Ferney, P.O. Box 2100 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Appeal Tel: 41 22 791 6033 Fax: 41 22 791 6506 E-mail: [email protected] Romania Coordinating Office
Europe Floods: Southern Romania Flood Affected EUR0 61 Appeal Target: US$ 199,250 Balance Requested: US$135,155
Geneva, 22 May 2006
Dear Colleagues, Several countries in eastern Europe have been affected by severe flooding as major rivers overflowed due to heavy rains and melting snow in the month of April. The ACT Co-ordinating Office has been approached by its members in Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria and is in the process of issuing three appeals for the Europe Floods.
This appeal deals with the floods in Romania and the response of ACT member AIDRom.
Many parts of Romania were still recovering from last years’ floods when a new calamity swept across 14 southern Romanian districts in April this year. The river Danube, swollen by heavy rains and melting snow following a harsh winter, has devastated counties in the southern Romanian provinces. In Romania's western county of Timis, the country's worst hit region in last year's floods, people who were displaced last year have again been forced to leave their homes. The state of emergency has been declared in 12 counties.
The floods have submerged more than three thousands homes in south-western Romania leaving nearly fifteen thousand homeless and tens of thousands more at risk. People who lost their houses are sleeping in army tents or have gone to relatives, sometimes in other parts of the region, less affected by flooding. The army and local mayors are providing basic assistance – food and shelter – for those accommodated in army shelters or community buildings. Many of those affected are subsistence farmers whose lives are normally already very difficult and now find themselves in an impossible situation without resources to fall back on.
Important towns flooded or threatened along the Danube include: Gruia, Calafat, Bechet, Corabia, Turnu Magurele, Zimnicea, Giurgiu, Oltenite, Fetesti, Galati, Braila, Tulcea.
Across the region, thousands of soldiers, civil defence and emergency workers and volunteers have been deployed round the clock to reinforce defences, bolster dikes along the Danube and battle the churning waters which are flowing at the highest level in more than a century. Authorities have started controlled flooding to divert water away from low-lying villages. ACT member AIDRom has already assisted 500 of the most vulnerable evacuated families with family food packages (35–40 kg of non-perishable food), water and personal hygiene kits.
In the post crisis rehabilitation AIDRom will not engage in the reconstruction of destroyed houses, but will make a substantial contribution in construction materials to 50 of the most vulnerable families who will not benefit sufficiently (partial support) from the Governmental reconstruction program, and who will have to build their new home mainly from their own resources. ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland. Romania – Assistance to Flood Affected 2 EURO 61 Appeal Project Completion Date: 30 September 2006
ACT Reporting schedule Interim narrative and financial reports covering the first half of the implementation will be submitted to ACT CO by 31 July 2006. Final narrative and financial reports will be submitted to the ACT CO by 30 November 2006 (two months after the completion of the project). The final audit will be submitted to the ACT CO by 31 December 2006 (three months after completion of the project).
Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested US$ Total Appeal Target(s) 199,250 Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd. 64,095 Balance Requested from ACT Alliance 135,155
Please kindly send your contributions to either of the following ACT bank accounts:
US dollar Account Number - 240-432629.60A IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A
Euro Euro Bank Account Number - 240-432629.50Z IBAN No: CH84 0024 0240 4326 2950Z
Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together UBS AG 8, rue du Rhône P.O. Box 2600 1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND Swift address: UBSW CHZH12A
Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira ([email protected]) and the Programme Officer Michael Hyden ([email protected]), Elsa Moreno ([email protected]), Mieke Weeda ([email protected]) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.
We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.
For further information please contact: Director, John Nduna (phone +41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone + 41 79 203 6055) or ACT Program Officer, Mieke Weeda (phone +41 22 791 6035 or mobile phone +41 79 285 2916)
ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org
John Nduna Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office Romania – Assistance to Flood Affected 3 EURO 61 Appeal
I. REQUESTING ACT MEMBER
Ecumenical Association of Churches in Romania – AIDRom / Emergency Unit
I. IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER INFORMATION
AIDRom is the Ecumenical Association of Churches, a charitable organisation founded in 1991 – a collaboration between the Orthodox, the Reformed and the Lutheran Churches in Romania to provide assistance to those in need regardless of gender, race, nationality or religion. Initially, the main task of AIDRom was to distribute humanitarian relief aid through specific projects in social, diaconal, ecological and emergency fields, but it was also designated to be an ecumenical platform for the Romanian churches.
As an ecumenical, non-governmental body, its primary aim is to ensure an ecumenical co-operation between the member churches (Romanian Orthodox, Hungarian Reformed, German Lutheran and Evangelical Church, and the Armenian Church) on common issues of interest such as education, mission, social diaconia matters, ecology, training for transformation, emergency, as well as financially assisting various ecumenical projects of these churches, through the co-ordination of the member church Bishops’ Offices.
As an ACT-member AIDRom Emergency Unit has been implementing emergency programs in Romania since 1997, but the Emergency Unit was already actively involved in this field since its establishment in 1991 (1991 earthquake in Banat Region, and floods in Moldavia, 1995 landslides in Transylvania, 1997-2005 floods in Transylvania, Moldavia Banat and Southern Romania).
In co-operation with ACT member Diakonie Emergency Aid (Germany) AIDRom is implementing disaster prevention programs in small rural communities from Romania, in order to assist them in mitigation of effects of various natural calamities.
II. DESCRIPTION of the EMERGENCY SITUATION
The river Danube, flowing from Central-Eastern Europe crosses southern Romania for a stretch of around 1,100 km, creating a natural border with Serbia and Bulgaria. For the past 100 years, the Danube and its delta have contributed substantially to the economy of Romania, in terms of water resources, electricity production, navigation, fishing and irrigation. However, during the 50 years of socialism, the resources of the Danube were seriously abused and over exploited. One of the most destructive actions taken was the narrowing of the river Danube’s riverbed to gain more fertile land for agriculture. This led to the building of continuous earth dams on the Romanian side of the Danube which have contributed significantly to the disaster in April 20061.
Many parts of Romania were still recovering from last years’ floods that claimed scores of lives and destroyed houses, farmland and infrastructure worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Again, flooding has devastated areas in 14 southern Romanian districts. After a harsh winter in many central European countries, the river Danube was swollen by heavy rain and melting snow, accumulating enormous quantities of water. Reaching Romania in the week-end of 14-16 April, its flow reached an all time record of 16,000 cubic meters/second causing havoc in the southern Romanian territories. Across the region, thousands of emergency workers and volunteers have been deployed round the clock to reinforce defences and battle the churning waters, trying to bolster dikes and dams2 along the Danube.
In Romania's western county of Timis, the area worst hit in last year's floods, many people who were displaced last year have again had to flee for their lives. A state of emergency has been declared in 12 Romanian counties neighbouring the Danube. Romania's Government initiated controlled flooding to divert water away from low- lying villages and was further “helped” by the collapse of three large dams in south-western Romania which
1 Governmental authorities blamed later (early May) the flooding on Romania's system of dikes, built under communism in the 1960s and 1970s to reclaim land for agriculture. Many of these have cracked or crumbled under the weight of excess water. 2 The Bulgarian shore of the Danube is mostly hilly and for this reason the waters of Danube have flooded mainly the Romanian territories. Bolstering dikes and dams was a necessity to initiate controlled flooding, trying to avoid flooding of largely habited town along the Danube. The dams and dikes in question were so called “protection dams”, but they were built with the earth removed in order to gain more territories for agriculture, rather then with the exclusive purpose of protecting localities of flooding. Romania – Assistance to Flood Affected 4 EURO 61 Appeal flooded thousands of hectares of farmland. Soldiers and civil defence workers have scrambled to reinforce dykes and build sandbag barriers along the river to try to control the flood waters.
Current Situation The floods have submerged more than three thousands homes in south-western Romania to the eastern delta region, leaving nearly fifteen thousands homeless and tens of thousands more at risk. People who lost their houses are sleeping in army tents or have gone to relatives. Some displaced are hosted by families in other parts of the region, less affected by flooding. The army and local mayors are providing basic assistance – food and shelter – for those accommodated in army shelters or community buildings. Many of the disaster-afflicted are subsistence farmers whose lives are normally very difficult. They now find themselves in an impossible situation without resources to fall back on.
There are many villagers who, in spite of losing their livelihood and the threat that their homes could collapse, refuse to leave their property. The attachment to property is very strong and many of the evacuated people are not waiting for an official decision, but are leaving the evacuation camps to return to their homes even though the situation is not safe.
AIDRom Emergency Unit staff visited many of the tent camps in the flooded areas of Dolj and Calarasi county and on 4 – 5 May AIDRom distributed 500 family food parcels from funds received under the Rapid Response Fund.
Disease has already started in some of the camps due to the lack of proper hygiene and unsanitary conditions. People in the camps are exposed to salmonella infection, digestive and intestinal disorders, cholera, hepatitis and other water borne ailments. Authorities have been taking measures to prevent the spread of diseases and disinfectant has been applied in some areas. However, this has not been sufficient, especially when the day-time temperatures reach 20-23 degrees and people do not have the possibility to keep food cool. Medical teams have also been dispatched to vaccinate against typhoid fever and other waterborne diseases.
The authorities are desperately trying to control the situation in the flooded areas. Priority is currently being given to assist those who have had to leave their homes and milk powder, drinking water, army beds, sleeping bags, tents, gas cookers, oil lamps, soap and detergent, rubber boots from the national reserves have been distributed to the evacuation camps. However, the random distribution of these items is generating severe tensions and disruptions among those hosted in the camps.
The government has further allocated EUR 2.50/day/person to provide food, hygiene articles and shelter for the evacuated. Also a one time grant of 150 RON (New Romanian Lei) equivalent to US$ 55 has been approved for the recovery phase for all those who were displaced. Children will receive an additional amount of 80 RON (USD 30) for the purchase of school materials.
At the same time the Government has requested emergency aid from the international community. The European Union has offered EURO 71.2 Million for Romania to cover damages caused by the Danube flooding. The solidarity of other European countries has materialised in in-kind donations such as motor pumps, gasoline power generators, rain coats, sand bags, biochemical water disinfectant and motorboats. The European Union authorities recognised that Romania’s strategy and infrastructure for disaster preparedness is old fashioned and serious investments are necessary for an efficient protection of the population from natural hazards and calamities. For this reason, it was agreed that a special fund be set up for infrastructure rehabilitation and disaster prevention, which could be accessed through the PHARE, ISPA and SAPARD programs by the interested communities.
Damages: The full impact of the disaster can only be assessed once the waters recede. As usual the most affected in such disasters are the poorest people – subsistence farmers, day labourers, etc. Many have completely lost their livelihood and a normally difficult situation has become unbearable. Insurance companies cannot help as Romanians do not have the culture of protecting or insuring their properties. Although there had been warnings in previous years about imminent natural disasters caused by future flooding in Romania, overall only 2.6% of people living in rural areas have insured their belongings. Furthermore, in the southern regions 98% of the houses that collapse are made of clay bricks which insurance companies do not normally insure. If they do, the premiums would be too high for the ordinary person to pay.
Romania – Assistance to Flood Affected 5 EURO 61 Appeal According to information available (10 May 2006), the following damages were reported: 15,834 persons evacuated 157 areas in 12 counties flooded 3,092 homes submerged 1,078 collapsed homes 122 houses in danger of collapsing 5,567 household annexes flooded 82,000 ha of agricultural land submerged under controlled flooding. The controlled overflow damaged the wheat and soy crops, and severely affected agricultural activities in the counties of Dolj, Calarasi, Ialomita and Olt. 65,000 ha of agricultural and maize land flooded. Most affected were the wheat crops – almost 30,000 ha, rape – over 3,000 ha, soy – 1,300 ha, barley – 1.400 ha, but also pastures and hay fields. Some 30,000 ha that was not cultivated yet lied under water as well. 3,394 flooded potable water wells 51 bridges and 221 pedestrian passes affected or destroyed 605 km of national county and village roads affected or destroyed
The most urgent needs continue to be food, potable water and hygiene articles in the evacuation camps. It is not known yet how long people will need to stay in these camps. The government has approved financial assistance for 500 modular, prefabricated basic homes along the Danube flooded regions for those in the worst situation. Work on these homes is expected to start in early June and hopefully the most basic, habitable home structures will be ready by the end of August. According to the most optimistic assessment, evacuation camps will need assistance in terms of food and non-food items for other three months. Therefore, the input in terms of emergency relief aid (and post crisis rehabilitation) coming also from humanitarian NGOs will be of significant importance, for preserving the human dignity of those evacuated. What has happened so frequently in the past is that once the crisis phase has passed (along with the sensational news stories), the problems of the evacuation camps are no longer in the limelight and are forgotten.
III. TARGETED BENEFICIARIES
AIDRom plans in the crisis phase to support 500 evacuated families with family food packages ( 35 kg), mineral water and personal hygiene kits.
In the post crisis rehabilitation AIDRom will not engage in the reconstruction of destroyed houses, but will make a substantial contribution in the form of construction materials for 50 of the most vulnerable families who will not benefit sufficiently (partial support) from the Governmental reconstruction program, and who will have to build their new home mainly from own resources.
Criteria utilised in Beneficiary Selection In the identification process of those most needy of assistance AIDRom Emergency Unit will be assisted by the implementing partners (mayors and parish ministers) from the affected communities. They will provide updated information on what has been distributed and where in the evacuation camps, in order to optimise and prioritise the relief aid distribution.
In the post crisis phase, selection will be carried out in a more detailed manner, taking into consideration the social status of the families and the support rendered by the state for home reconstruction, but also AIDRom’s proven criteria such as vulnerability factors (children, women, elderly), nutritional and health status along with socio- economic background.
The assistance will be given in the form of most requested construction materials such as bricks, cement, construction wood and iron, cement, slacked lime, roofing tiles, along with household and construction tools kit. The targeted beneficiary groups for the post crisis phase is expected to comprise families with children up to 14 years, two-generation families under one roof, handicapped and socially marginalised people (members of the Roma community).
Romania – Assistance to Flood Affected 6 EURO 61 Appeal Location for Proposed Response AIDRom plans to work in two counties along the Danube river which have been severely affected by the floods: Dolj and Calarasi . The rationale for targeting communities in these counties is two-fold: AIDRom has reliable implementing partners in the Social Services of the Orthodox Archbishop Office in Craiova - Dolj county and the Orthodox Bishops’ Office of Slobozia and Calarasi in Calarasi county; these areas also have the largest number of displaced people (9,415 in Dolj county and 5,050 in Calarasi county).
Initially it is planned that the recipient villages will be Bechet, Bistret and Catane in Dolj county and Spantov, Chiselet and Manastirea in Calarasi county. However, the locations may be subject to change according to the later (post crisis phase) surveys carried out by AIDRom and based on the information provided by the regional implementing partners.
IV. PROPOSED EMERGENCY ASISTANCE & IMPLEMENTATION
Goal: the main goal is to alleviate the suffering of the affected families, to mitigate the effects of the flood on the small rural communities and help them on the path to recovery.
Objectives: To provide immediate humanitarian assistance in the form of family food parcels, mineral water, hygiene kits and disinfectant and In the post crisis assistance to provide construction materials for home repairs (bricks, cement, roofing materials, wood, iron bars, etc.).
The assistance will be given in the most appropriate way which will contribute to the alleviation of the damages and the suffering.
Program Structure: AIDRom plans to implement in two phases:
¾ Immediate humanitarian assistance ¾ Post crisis rehabilitation
Crisis Phase – Emergency Relief Aid The first phase of the implementation will focus on distribution of relief: food, drinking water and hygiene items to 500 families. AIDRom Emergency Unit will cover the recipient villages with the co-operation of local churches and mayors offices. The relief food packages are calculated to meet the basic nutritional needs for an average family (2 adults + 2 children) during the crisis period (1 month). The contents of the parcels are calculated according to the guidelines described in the Sphere Project, in relation to the minimum standards in food aid. AIDRom has also taken into consideration that the daily bread ration is provided by the local authorities.
Also taken into consideration is that the food parcel should strengthen food security and not serve as a daily "feeding source" for the flood affected. The food parcels will contain 35 kgs of non-perishable food, packed in standard boxes labelled with the ACT/AIDRom logo. Each box will contain: wheat and corn flour, edible oil, sugar, rice, salt, pasta, canned soup, meat and vegetables, cottage cheese, jam, milk powder and matches. In addition mineral water packages (comprising 15 litres of bottled mineral water) will be provided to 500 families.
The hygiene parcel will contain all the necessary items for up to 6 weeks/family, including the following items: washing powder, washing up liquid, disinfectant, soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush, sanitary pads and towels.
Post Crisis Phase – Home Rehabilitation Inputs On the basis of surveys made by AIDRom Emergency Unit co-ordinator in consultation with local mayors and church ministers, private homes will be rehabilitated. 50 of the most vulnerable families who will have to build their homes mainly from their own resources will be selected.
Romania – Assistance to Flood Affected 7 EURO 61 Appeal The assistance will be provided mainly by AIDRom Emergency Unit directly to those in need, after each family has decided on the most needed construction items (cement, bricks, wood, slacked lime, iron bars, roofing tiles, insulation materials, sand, stones, etc.) keeping as reference the budget per family which initially will be set to US$ 1,750 (adjusted later according to the funding of the Appeal). In other cases, assistance will be provided through the local churches where AIDRom will provide the requested materials to the temporary distribution centres set up by the local churches. The rehabilitation work will be carried out by each family using its own physical resources. AIDRom will also provide for the selected 50 families a set of household and basic construction tools, which will help them in the house raising process.
Implementation Procedures AIDRom's regional implementing partners will provide information and specifics about the most affected families in communities targeted for assistance. The local churches and mayor offices will be asked to assist and take part in the aid distribution initiated and led by AIDRom. There will also be collaboration and co-ordination with any other organisations working in the area to assist the flood affected. All activities in both the Crisis and Post Crisis Phases will be continuously monitored by the AIDRom Emergency Unit Co-ordinator. For all type of inputs received, beneficiaries will sign acknowledgement receipts, confirmed by the local church ministers, mayor or project field co-ordinator. The regular surveys of the Emergency Unit Team will represent another important basis for decisions to be taken during implementation.
Procurement and transport Procurement of the necessary items will be co-ordinated by the Field Officer with the assistance of local church ministers or representatives of the mayors office. Locating the closest procurement site (local or regional) as well as the cheapest means of transportation will be the duty of AIDRom Emergency Unit’s field work officer together with local implementing partners. Two transport monitors will be responsible for transporting relief items to the different locations.
Organisational Capacity / Staffing A program assistant for secretarial support and a field co-ordinator will be employed for the project implementation period. Two transport monitors will assist the project field co-ordinator during the distribution (both in Crisis and Post Crisis Phase). Transport monitors will also transport relief items to different project locations.
Exit Strategy Operations funded through the ACT alliance in Romania and carried out by AIDRom generally last between five and eight months. However, AIDRom always ensures that, when humanitarian aid is withdrawn, the people it has helped can once again cope with the situation and are on the path of recovery, or that another form of longer-term development assistance is available.
V. ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE
Administration The program director (co-ordinator) in co-operation with the program assistant and field co-ordinator are responsible for overall management of the project. The program director will supervise the work of the field co- ordinator. The assistant will support program implementation and assure data collection for timely reporting to AIDRom head office and ACT Geneva. The field co-ordinator is responsible to the program director for management of local project activities, including the organisation and supervision of local teams, procurement, distributions and negotiations with local authorities. Procurement and all related activities will be done according to ACT Guidelines. The transport monitors, under the supervision of the field co-ordinator, will maintain contact and provide all necessary data for the (program) assistant to further process.
Finance Management and Controls The AIDRom Emergency Unit co-ordinator will report to ACT Co-ordinating Office according to ACT Reporting Guidelines and will carry out regular financial controls and make the necessary adjustments to the implementation process. Each Bishops’ Offices or church parishes from the recipient areas and villages will appoint a counsellor to be in charge of project accounting in the case that funds will be run through local accounts for the purchase of construction materials. The counsellors will send their reports and remarks to AIDRom Emergency Unit program director. Beneficiaries will be requested to sign a protocol, which will confirm the type and quantity and value of received materials. Romania – Assistance to Flood Affected 8 EURO 61 Appeal
VI. MONITORING, REPORTING & EVALUATION
The program monitoring will be carried out from AIDRom Head Office in Bucharest and the regional office in Brasov. The program co-ordinator will visit the region where the project is under implementation at least once a month to monitor progress, disburse funds, deal with problems that arise and also make adjustments to the implementation process, share and refer issues if necessary to the Head Office and ACT CO.
Reporting: AIDRom Emergency Unit Program Director will provide the necessary updates as well as final narrative and financial reports as required to the ACT CO.
Reporting schedule Interim narrative and financial reports covering the first half of the implementation will be submitted to ACT CO by 31 July 2006. Final narrative and financial reports will be submitted to the ACT CO by 30 November 2006. The final audit will be submitted to the ACT CO by 31 December 2006.
VII. IMPLEMENTATION TIMETABLE
April to September 2006
VIII. CO-ORDINATION
AIDRom will maintain close contact with the implementing partners and will request status reports on a regular basis. The interactive co-operation will be based on free information channelling and sharing, responsibility, transparency, accountability and credibility. Co-ordination meetings will be held by AIDRom Emergency Unit once a month at the various implementation sites, to monitor and co-ordinate the work with all involved in the aid process. Further co-ordination work – in the form of mutual assistance and support – will be carried out on an individual basis by the Field co-ordinator, where other organisations are working in the same regions or sectors. Whenever possible, AIDRom Emergency Team will attend other meetings and events that are relevant to the humanitarian aid program.
IX. BUDGET
INCOME US$ Diakonisches Werk 64,094 TOTAL INCOME 64,094
ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE
Description Type of No of Unit Cost Budget Unit Units US$ USD DIRECT ASSISTANCE Crisis Phase Relief Food Distribution Families 500 90 45,000 Mineral Water 15 liter packages 500 3.80 1,900 Health & Medical Inputs Families 500 75 37,500
Post Crisis Phase Construction Materials Families 50 1,750 87,500 Household & Construction Tool Set Families 50 125 6,250 Sub total 178,150
TRANSPORT, STORAGE & RELATED HANDLING COSTS Truck Rental Km 2,500 1.50 3,750 Sub total 3,750
Romania – Assistance to Flood Affected 9 EURO 61 Appeal
Description Type of No of Unit Cost Budget Unit Units US$ USD PERSONNEL, ADMIN., OPERATIONS & OTHER SUPPORT COSTS Staff Salaries & Benefits Emergency Programme Co-ordinator Month 6 650 3,900 Program Field Co-ordinator Month 5 550 2,750 Assistant to Program Co-ordinator Month 5 450 2,250 Transport co-ordinators Month 4 200 800 Travel costs Per Diems (Food/Lodging) Days 30 75 2,250 Vehicle Operations costs Fuel (Diesel and Gasoline) Km 10,000 0.30 3,000 Communications costs Telephone Lump Sum 700 E-Mail Lump Sum 200 Bank Fees Lump Sum 500 Financial Audit 1,000 Sub total 17,350
TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE 199,250