USAID Provides Support to the Flooded Areas near the Danube
Since April 12, 2006, the Danube River has flooded several settlements on the Bulgarian side of the river causing damage similar in size and economic impact to the devastations from last year. The economic activity in the region is seriously affected and many of the industrial zones will need at least a month to recover. Transport on the Danube River is almost entirely blocked breaking the most economic and important export links to Central Europe. The towns of Vidin, Nikopol and Silistra suffered most as the floods damaged homes, public buildings, ports, roads and many citizens were evacuated. The authorities established a tent camp for 3,000 – 4,500 evacuees in the Vidin region. Twenty-three localities were affected and the water damaged 1,049 houses and 397 courtyards, 40 public buildings, 713 km of roads, and 55,489 decares of farmland.
USAID, through its ongoing Flood Relief Program, supported the Bulgarian authorities in their rescue efforts, providing food and mineral water, pump-hoses and sanitary materials to the affected areas on emergency basis.
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Residents negotiate waters in a flooded village near the Danube
Photo Credit: AP |
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