Czech Republic Sends Aid to Flood-Hit Ukraine, Moldova

2 August 2008

The Czech Republic will send humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Moldova hit by the recent disastrous floods, the Czech Fire Brigade told CTK today.

Each of the countries will receive aid worth one million crowns.

The Czechs have already provided humanitarian aid for flood-hit Slovakia and Romania.

The Czech firefighters left for Ukraine today, taking six pumps, 500 inflatable beds, 500 sleeping bags and 240 emergency packages with garments to Ukraine.

Another 10 pumps, six electric generators and 500 pairs of rubber boots will be sent to Moldova.

The Charita (Charity) CR association sent 70 dryers to the flooded municipalities in Slovakia and launched a public fund- raising campaign for the flood-hit Slovak regions.

The People in Need humanitarian organization also sent dryers to Slovakia.

Romania received 12 electric generators from the Czech Republic on Friday.

Western Ukraine was hit by the worst flooding in the past 100 years that claimed 26 lives. Over 40,000 houses, thousands of kilometres of roads, hundreds of bridges and electric wires were destroyed. Tens of thousands of people lost their homes.

Kiev estimated the damage at an equivalent of 12 billion crowns.

The recent floods also afflicted Romania where it claimed five lives, and the neighbouring Slovakia where two people died in the swollen rivers.

($1=15.409 crowns)