14 DAY TRIAL // The Romanian Red Cross launched through the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation a preliminary international appeal for humanitarian assistance worth 1.5 million euros granted over three months to at least 13,000 beneficiaries.
After having granted so far first aid humanitarian assistance to over 10,000 people forced out of their homes from the counties of Braila (south), Caras-Severin (west), Calarasi (south), Constanta (east), Dolj (south), Galati (south) and Tulcea (east), the stocks of the organization in the central deposit and the six local deposits are almost exhausted.
The international appeal follows the national appeal launched by the Romanian Red Cross for fund-raising in support of the humanitarian assistance and stock replenishment.
An international Federation team arrived in Romania as early as April 20 to support the Romanian Red Cross assess the needs of the affected communities in Braila, Caras-Severin, Calarasi, Constanta, Dolj, Galati and Tulcea.
The report of international experts mentions the need to supplement humanitarian aid and the number of shelters. The supplies of potable water, the improvement of the sanitary and hygienic conditions are the aspects the Romanian Red Cross will deal with in the coming three months.
The Red Cross recommends that aid shipments to the flood-stricken areas be preceded by an assessment of effective needs, performed in coordination with the local authorities so as to avoid the situations when the aid is unequally and randomly sent to the population - as it happened last year - or the cases when the aid does not meet the needs of the people affected by the floods.
The Romanian Red Cross, the organization authorized under law to provide humanitarian aid in case of disasters, provides humanitarian aid in conformity with the Sphere standards of the Red Cross and Red Crescent International Movement of non-governmental organizations that have to be enforced by all the entities involved in actions for the help of people affected by disasters.