Russia helps Moldova & Ukraine to overcome flood consequences

TIRASPOL, August 2 (Itar-Tass) - Almost 800 hundred homes have been
flooded in Moldova's Dniester region. The number of people evacuated from their homes has risen to 1,807 people, Vadim Krasnoselsky, the interior minister of the unrecognised republic, said in a report to Transdniester's President Igor Smirnov.

The interior minister said the water levels started falling in regions
located higher than the dam of the Dubossary hydropower station. However,
the remaining waters discharged by a hydropower station on the Dniester
River in Ukraine are approaching the territory of the Dniester region and
there is a threat that the waters may burst the riverbank dikes in the
Dubossary, Grigorypolsky, Slobodzeisky regions and in the cities of
Tiraspol and Bendery.

The interior minister said over the last 24 hours rescue workers had
restored the damaged riverbank dikes through which water was leaking out
in some places. People have been evacuated from the flood zone. One
thousand one hundred seventy two rescuers, volunteers and policemen are
helping to overcome the flood's aftermaths. Two hundred ten engineering
vehicles and trucks have been mobilized for the rescue effort.
President Smirnov said that the situation was not catastrophic and the
rescue operation was proceeding smoothly. "I am glad that we are calm and
business-like as we are trying to get over the aftermaths of this natural
disaster," Smirnov went on to say.
He noted that the Transdniester region had begun estimating the
damaged caused by the floods. He said that Russia, including the Moscow
mayor's office, were the first to respond to the region's calls for help.
"We are very grateful that Russia didn't leave us face-to-face with
the disaster in this difficult time," Smirnov went on to say. He added
that Russia was helping all residents of the Transdniester region and not
just Russian citizens.
In the meantime, an IL-76 plane of the Russian Emergencies Ministry
delivered 40 tons of relief aid for people in Ukraine's six flood-stricken
western regions late on Friday. The cargo includes food and drinking
water, Yevgeny Guzeyev, Russia's general consul in Lvov, told Itar-Tass.
Local officials and representatives of the Ukrainian Emergencies Ministry
waited for the Russian plane at the airfield.
The second Russian plane is expected to arrive in Lvov on Saturday,
August 2.
Thirty-five countries and international organizations have already
offered aid to Ukraine's western regions. On Friday, the Ukrainian Foreign
Ministry announced a list of items, which Ukraine needs urgently to render
humanitarian and technical assistance to the flood-stricken areas. They
include heavy engineering vehicles, small machines, sanitary and other
equipment as well as bulldozers, concrete delivery trucks, cranes, buses,
trucks, dump trucks, fire-fighting equipment, building materials,
fuel-powered saws, motor pumps and diesel electric generators.
Russia was the first to deliver humanitarian aid on Friday. On August
4, a convoy of 24 trucks is expected to deliver 105 tons of humanitarian
cargo to the Ivano-Frankovsk region, which was worst, hit by the
devastating flooding. The cargo includes mini electric power stations,
welding machines, fuel-powered saws, tents, tableware, motor pumps and
blankets.