World Bank supports Moldova to strengthen capacity of resilience to disasters, climate risks

Chisinau, 20 May /MOLDPRES/ - The World Bank's board of executive directors has approved an additional financing of two million dollars for Moldova within the Disaster and Climate Risks Management Project. This assistance will strengthen the capacity of the State Hydro-meteorological Service to forecast the adverse weather and improve Moldova's general capacity of preparedness and response to natural disasters.

A WB communique says that the new financing supplements the project worth 10 million dollars, the goal of which is to reduce Moldova's susceptibility to natural disasters, especially in the agricultural sector and the related ones, as well as the diminution of the country's vulnerability to droughts, floods and other natural shocks.

Over the last four years, the project under way backed a string of activities in the fields of hydro-meteorological services, civilian protection and intelligent agriculture to climate changes. A command centre for emergency situations was set up with the World Bank's money. The centre will be in charge of coordinating the response to disasters; a platform of early warning and information and an information system of agricultural marketing was created as well.

"The periodical reappearance of  natural disasters and their impact on Moldova's economy and residents requires a continuous commitment to enhance the country's capacity of reaction to disasters and climate risks," World Bank's Country Manager for Moldova Alex Kremer has said.  "This imperative is relevant, taking into account the country's dimensions and density of population, and gives the aspects of disasters and climate risk management an important place in the state's sustainable development agenda." 

Over one billion dollars has been earmarked to Moldova within about 60 projects since the country's accession to the World Bank in 1992. Presently, the WB portfolio includes nine projects under way, and the overall commitments amount to 246 million dollars. 

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcaza)