Moldovan PM chairs first meeting of commission mitigating flood consequences
Prime Minister Vlad Filat chaired the first meeting of the national commission in charge of mitigating the consequences of floods on 19 July, the government's press service has said.
Interior Minister Victor Catan said that overflows of the rivers Prut and Dniester flooded 1,105 dwellings, of which 761 in Hincesti district, 55 in Ungheni and two in Nisporeni. Also, two bridges of local importance were destroyed and another four damaged.
Catan said that floods also hit 4,100 hectares of sowed farmland, nine hectares of orchards, 1,200 hectares of private gardens and 4,108 hectares of grazing fields, most of which are situated in Hincesti district.
Catan specified that various sorts of works were carried out to mitigate the consequences of floods and to prevent them. Thus, the existing dams were consolidated and 65-kilometer-long temporary dams were built in 15 districts. Also, 2,852 people, including 538 children, and their goods were evacuated. Actions were taken to protect sources of drinking water and to pump water out of basements.
Over 14,000 employees of the Interior Ministry, Service of Civil Protection and Emergencies, Defence Ministry, Carabineer Troops, Border Guard Service, the local public administration and other bodies were involved in the process.
Vlad Filat instructed the relevant officials to press ahead with the alleviation of flood consequences and assistance for victims. He asked that assistance should be provided to Cantemir district, where a dam fell down in the village of Gotesti. Filat also noted that an objective investigation into the causes of this incident should be carried out.
The head of the worst-hit Hincesti district, Anatol Chetraru, presented the situation, noting that all Hincesti district residents whose houses were destroyed by floods were provided with shelter.
Education Minister Leonid Bujor pointed out the ministry's actions to help children and to prepare education institutions from flood-hit populated areas for the beginning of the new school year. Bujor said that the education programme in Hincesti district might be amended if necessary.
Bujor also said that the ministry was going to compile a list of school-leavers from the flood-hit settlements in order to submit it to universities so that they are matriculated.
Filat reiterated the government's commitment to provide all flood victims whose houses had been destroyed with dwellings before the cold season.
He asked the Construction and Regional Development Ministry to prepare several house designs depending on the victims' needs. He also demanded that the documents necessary for holding a tender to select a construction company should be completed, adding that the preparation of construction sites should be sped up.
Filat said that the government had already found the proceeds necessary to start the construction of houses.
The participants in the meeting approved the composition of the working group in charge of keeping record of humanitarian aid and donations meant for flood victims. It will be headed by Deputy State Minister Anatolie Onceanu.
Moldpres
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