Community in Stefan Voda district ready to manage disasters with development partners' support

Chisinau, Nov 9 /MOLDPRES/- This fall, Stefan Voda district was marked by an important event for the safety of the community. The civil protection simulation exercises, which are held every five years, brought together civil protection forces, local authorities, non-governmental organizations and citizens to learn how to respond effectively in emergencies. The highlight of the exercises was a flood simulation in Răscăieți, where intervention teams, together with the local Commission for Emergency Situations planned and carried out sandbagging, a vital technique for flood prevention in critical areas.

Helvetas Moldova team actively participated in organizing and conducting the final event of the exercises. The activities took place under the project Building Resilient Communities in Stefan Voda District, implemented with the support of USAID, which aims to strengthen the capacity of authorities and communities in Stefan Voda to manage and reduce disaster losses. It focuses specifically on the localities of Răscăieți, Palanca, Talmaza and Stefan Voda.

The exercise brought together around 200 participants, including representatives of local public authorities, the private sector and educational institutions, in the village of Răscăieți. The simulation of a flood, a recurrent natural phenomenon in the region was the focus of the exercise. 

Emergency preparedness plans were presented in Stefan Voda district, which clarify the responsibilities of entities and provide essential recommendations for risk preparedness.

Olga Luchian, president of Stefan Voda district, emphasized the importance of collaboration between entities in emergency management.

This inter-institutional collaboration and active community involvement are essential for building a more resilient community able to face future challenges.

The importance of emergency preparedness

As part of the event, civil protection teams gave demonstrations of their equipment used in emergencies. First-aid kits and communication technology were on display and those present, especially the students from Răscăieți Gymnasium had the opportunity to test them. This gave them a deeper understanding of how to use the equipment.

Through these exercises, Stefan Voda district has reaffirmed its commitment to becoming a resilient community able to face future challenges. In a world where disaster risks are becoming increasingly frequent, initiatives such as these are not only useful but essential to ensure the safety and well-being of communities.

Community mobilization to disasters

Disaster risk prevention is becoming particularly important in the context of Stefan Voda district, given the significant exposure to various natural hazards such as floods, vegetation fires and droughts. These threats have serious effects on the infrastructure, economy and daily life of the inhabitants, which makes it necessary to adopt comprehensive strategies for disaster risk management. Disaster risk concerns are evident among the inhabitants of Stefan Voda district. Almost 63 thousand people are at risk from vegetation fires and 25 thousand from floods. This awareness was reflected in the discussions between participants, who shared their experiences.

Through an inclusive approach to disaster risk reduction and preparedness, the project emphasizes the importance of collaboration with stakeholders, which is essential to ensure effective and sustainable risk management strategies.

The next phase of the project involves the installation of an early warning system that will analyze weather risks and enable the community to react quickly. This system will play a crucial role in protecting lives and property to extreme situations, providing vital information to citizens.

Reporter - Lilia Grubii