Romanian flood refugees ‘running out of food’
With waters still rising after about two weeks of flooding, hundreds have taken refuge in tents on a hill overlooking the central village of Chiselet.
Some moved into makeshift shelters made from plastic sheets, while others crammed into army tents.
Food is running low, they say, and there are no toilets, forcing them to use a nearby field.
Volunteers and authorities brought bread, water and canned foods — provided by the government – and promised to set up portable toilets.
It is a situation seen along the length of Romania’s southern border, where the Danube — Europe’s second-largest river — has reached record levels in the past weeks due to melting snow and heavy rains.
About 148 communities have been affected by flooding, and more than 15,000 people have been forced to evacuate, the Interior Ministry said yesterday.
Near Chiselet, a riverside village of 3,400 people, dead rats and moles were seen floating among floodwater debris. The army evacuated a local shepherd and his 250 sheep yesterday. Other animals had already been pulled to safety, residents said. In nearby Spantov, hundreds more villagers were crowded into tents, saying their food stores were also running low and they were without toilets.
They were among some 1,800 people evacuated three days ago, but others were staying with relatives or in schools.
Community police spokesman Bogdan Nicolae said: “We haven’t had reports of any illnesses. We are taking measures to prevent it.
“Of course there are risks, but authorities have been mobilised.”
Disinfectant has been sprayed over some areas to prevent the spread of disease, according to television reports.
There have been no deaths from the recent flooding.
Last year, heavy flooding throughout Romania killed at least 70 people.
Areas in Ukraine and Bulgaria, and earlier in Serbia, Hungary and Austria, also have seen massive flooding.
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