Pronounced ‘the worst in 500 years’, floods have been rapidly spreading
across Europe over the past week causing severe damage to housing
and public infrastructure, forcing thousands of people to flee their
homes. The worst affected is the Czech Republic, which capital Prague
and the region of Southern Bohemia have already seen some 200,000
people fleeing their homes.
Floods have also caused severe damage in the Black Sea region of
the Russian Federation, southern parts of Romania, Austria, Germany,
Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria.
The ACT Coordinating office has approached its members in the Czech
Republic, Romania and Hungary who are currently involved in preparing
and organizing an emergency response at both regional and national
levels.
The Czech Republic is in need of immediate, well-coordinated
and systematic life-saving support. ACT member The Ecumenical Council
of Churches in the Czech Republic (ECC) has pointed out the necessity
to address longer-term needs considering that the local infrastructure
has already suffered comprehensive damage. ECC is planning to set
up ‘Ecumenical Flood Committees’ for Prague and South Bohemia as these
two areas remain in greatest need. These committees, comprising local
churches, will be main points for assessment and distribution of humanitarian
aid.
In addition to offering some basic assistance through its volunteers,
Diakonie of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren (ECCB)
together with other NGO partners has started an assessment of damage
to individual households.
The ACT CO is also expecting news and emergency proposals from the
Orthodox Church and Slezska Diakonia.
ACT member AIDROM reports on the thousands of displaced in
the Danube region and southern parts of Romania. Immediate
needs comprise food, hygiene items and temporary shelter for the displaced.
AIDROM is concerned about how much longer local authorities will be
able to cope with the growing number of displaced. To assist local
government authorities in life-saving actions, AIDROM has requested
assistance from the ACT Rapid Response Fund. They are also preparing
an emergency appeal.
ACT member Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA) has already provided
significant assistance to the flood victims in Hungary. They
report on some 260 damaged houses and 180 evacuated people, most of
whom have already returned home. According to HIA, the government
is taking preventive measures in view of anticipated further flooding
of the Danube between Esztergom and Budapest. Evacuations are likely
to take place in the coming days. Working in conjunction with Slezka
Diakonia/Bratislava, HIA is also assessing the situation in neighboring
Slovakia that is also affected by the current floods.
Proposed Action
To assist its members in responding to the most immediate needs of
flood-affected population, ACT International will release Rapid Response
Funds for its members in the Czech Republic and Romania. Parallel
to that, the ACT Coordinating office will launch major preparations
for a consolidated appeal for floods in Europe, to include all related
emergency action in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary
and Bulgaria. At the same time, floods hitting the Russian Black Sea
region will be addressed in a revised EURU-21 appeal.
