John Groza, our Moldova Field Director, reports that “After days of heavy rains in Moldova, there have been evacuated over 3000 people from different areas along Prut river. The official sources say that after a week, high water on the Prut river flooded 60 communities in 14 districts of Moldova. The worst affected area still remains to be in Hincesti district where three villages of Nemteni, Cotul Morii and Obileni are already under water. A number of 404 households were flooded and 2299 people out of which 471 children were evacuated from there. They have been sheltered in the sports halls, kindergartens and schools of the neighboring villages. There was recorded a dead person and another one disappeared.”  (Later news reports 15 deaths.)  Thousands of poor people lost everything as homes and farming acreage were destroyed. This happened in uncertain times, caused by the recent presidential elections. With huge debts to other nations, the country is forced to agree to new, higher tariffs for gas, heating and electricity. Many people are afraid of not being able to pay for these things. Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe, having the lowest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the lowest life expectancy (only 68 years of age) on the continent. Last year 80 thousand people lost their jobs and the rate of unemployment reached 35%. The salary of the majority of employed people failed to cover the costs for even a minimal existence, not to mention a minimum consumption, while the prices of all goods and services continues to grow at a very fast rate.

“We, as Mission, visited two times these unhappy and oppressed people and delivered them mattresses, clothes, shoes, blankets and food. The people were happy receiving these items but the terror and disaster could be read on their unhappy faces. They lost all they gathered during their lifetime. They lost animals, poultries and lots of crops.”

Support for helping in people in Moldova may be given online or sent to our office in Camarillo, CA

MWB P.O. Box 6008 Camarillo, CA 93011