Moldova - 1.1 Humanitarian Background
Disasters, Conflicts and Migration
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Natural Disasters |
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|---|---|---|
|
Type |
Occurs |
Comments / Details |
|
Drought |
Yes |
Moldova is at high risk of drought and extreme weather events. For instance, 7 of the 10 warmest years in Moldova’s history occurred within the past two decades. Historically, Moldova has experienced droughts once every 3 to 10 years depending on the geographic location in the country |
|
Earthquakes |
Yes |
While earthquakes are more infrequent, their impact could also be devastating and could significantly alter Moldova’s socioeconomic trajectory. Moldova is situated in a high-seismicity area due to its proximity to Vrancea, one of the most active seismic areas of Europe. Moldova has suffered 16 major earthquakes of magnitude 7-8 over the past 200 years. |
|
Epidemics |
Yes |
According to WHO, the Republic of Moldova has reported 628,673 Confirmed cases and a total of 12,159 Confirmed deaths.[MB1] |
|
Extreme Temperatures |
Yes |
Extreme weather events, such as heat waves, do occur. Additionally, climate change is increasing the vulnerability of Moldova to these extreme weather events, potentially leading to more frequent and intense occurrences. |
|
Flooding |
Yes |
Floods are a major concern to Moldova as 10 major floods have been reported over the past 70 years, three of which occurred in the 21st century (in 2006, 2008, and 2010). |
|
Insect Infestation |
No |
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Mudslides |
Yes |
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Volcanic Eruptions |
No |
|
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High Waves / Surges |
No |
|
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Wildfires |
Yes |
|
|
High Winds |
No |
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|
Other Comments |
|
|
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Man-Made Issues |
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Civil Strife |
Yes |
Transnistria has existed as a breakaway region since the 1992 conclusion of the war within Moldova. Russian troops have been stationed in Moldova since 1992. These troops fall into two categories: “peacekeepers,” who are tasked with patrolling the territory as a part of an agreement that ended the war, and other Russian forces who are tasked with protecting a large Soviet-era weapons depot. |
|
International Conflict |
No |
Although not directly involved, the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine has affected Moldova. In response to the invasion, Moldova declared a 60-day state of emergency and fully closed its airspace for a week. Moldova is officially neutral. Moldovan officials have repeatedly accused Russia of conducting a “hybrid war” against the country — funding anti-government protests, meddling in local elections and running vast disinformation campaigns to try to topple the government and derail Moldova from its path toward full EU membership. Russia has denied the accusations.[MB4] |
|
Internally Displaced Persons |
No |
|
|
Yes |
Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, 1.5 million arrivals have been reported since 24 February 2022. As of March 2024, there are currently 119,000 refugees from Ukraine in Moldova. 42,000 refugees have been granted Temporary Protection. 7,000 citizens of Ukraine have been granted resident permits, either permanent or temporary. 1,347 individuals are in the asylum system: 207 persons with refugee status; 382 humanitarian protection beneficiaries; 757 asylum seekers under examination |
|
|
Landmines / UXO Present |
Yes |
The extent to which the breakaway region of Transnistria is mine-affected remains unclear. In its Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report for calendar year 2005, Moldova claimed that there were no mined areas containing antipersonnel mines on territory under its control, while acknowledging that it had no information on the situation in the breakaway region of Transnistria.[MB6] |
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Other Comments |
|
|
For a more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters
Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities
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Seasonal Effects on Transport |
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|---|---|---|
|
Transport Type |
Time Frame |
Comments / Details |
|
Primary Road Transport |
No |
|
|
Secondary Road Transport |
No |
|
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Rail Transport |
No |
|
|
Air Transport |
No |
|
|
Waterway Transport |
Yes |
During the months of August to November, navigation in the Prut river may face some challenges due to a decrease in the water flow |
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Seasonal Effects on Storage and Handling |
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|---|---|---|
|
Activity Type |
Time Frame |
Comments / Details |
|
Storage |
NA |
|
|
Handling |
NA |
|
|
Other |
NA |
|
No seasonality effects have been identified in Moldova. At most, there can be some road blockages during winter for a few days, but none of the stakeholders consulted considered this as a challenge to logistics operations.
Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response
GOVERNMENT
Disaster risk management (DRM) in Moldova is currently performed at different government levels and is gradually becoming more comprehensive. The institutional set-up for DRM is complex and covers various natural, biological, health, and man-made hazards. Moldovan institutions involved in disaster risk mitigation can be roughly divided into coordinating emergency commissions, early warning and weather forecasting bodies, sectoral line ministries, and disaster management bodies.
The below is a non-exhaustive list of the key institutions dealing with emergency response and coordination:
- Ministry of Labour and Social Protection: The ministry coordinates with other government agencies, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to develop and implement assistance programs for refugees. Moreover, the ministry provides social services to refugees, including access to healthcare, education, housing, and social welfare support.
- General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations. currently housed under the Ministry of Interior as the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (GIES). The GIES is an all-hazard emergency response agency with the duty to save lives and property. It oversees planning, coordinating, and managing disaster preparedness and emergency management. The GIES coordinates the activities of national and local agencies and authorities; informs local authorities of emergency situations; organizes trainings for paramilitary, nonmilitary, and rescue agencies for emergency response; develops educational programs for the public; drafts normative acts and civil protection plans to be submitted to the Parliament; and coordinates research activities related to civil protection. It coordinates the political and technical actors involved in emergency management and preparedness, including representatives of all relevant ministries. The GIES is the operational point for the National Command Center and ensures the coordination of interinstitutional disaster response efforts, with a focus on information management. GIES creates five-year preparedness and response plans and carries out emergency response exercises every five years.
- Republican Commission for Emergency Situations. Is the main entity responsible for managing the activities of state executive organs during major emergencies and for implementing long-term programs to prevent emergencies and eliminate their consequences. The chair of the commission is the prime minister; the first deputy chair is the first deputy prime minister; and deputy chairs are the state secretaries of the involved ministries and the head of the GIES of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The commission is a permanently operating institution and is convened if danger is detected or when various emergencies begin.
- Regional and local governments are also involved in coordination with GIES and other local departments, as well as in mobilizing local funds and other resources for relief and recovery operations.[MB7]
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link 4.1 Government Contact List
HUMANITARIAN COMMUNITY
The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945, after the Second World War, by 51 countries, to achieve a great vision for humanity: maintaining international peace and security, promoting sustainable development, and securing human rights. Its membership now encompasses 193 countries, with its work touching the lives of people in every corner of the globe. The Republic of Moldova joined the United Nations (UN) on March 2, 1992. Since then, the United Nations system supports the Republic of Moldova in achieving its major development goals and fulfilling its vision to be a prosperous and modern European country.
Today, over twenty resident and non-resident UN specialised agencies, funds and programmes work in Moldova, including but not limited to: WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNFPA, UNDP, IOM, and FAO. Regarding non-UN entities, there are several humanitarian NGOs and INGOs operating in Moldova. Some of these NGOs are: World Vision, Helpage International, IFRC, ACTED, NRC, People in Need, ICRC, and the Moldovan Red Cross.
For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Humanitarian Agency Contact List
Republic of Moldova (who.int) [MB1]
Moldova Disaster Risk Reduction Project (undp.org) [MB2]
Moldova Deforestation Rates & Statistics | GFW (globalforestwatch.org) [MB3]
Moldova faces multiple threats from Russia as it turns toward EU membership, foreign minister says | AP News [MB4]
Document - Ukraine Situation: Moldova - Operations Update (March 2024) (unhcr.org) [MB5]
Mine Action | Reports | Monitor (the-monitor.org) [MB6]
Strengthening Moldova’s Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience - Facing Current Issues and Future Challenges, June 2020 - Moldova | ReliefWeb [MB7]