Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SOFIA1398
2005-08-08 03:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:  

BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES HIGHER ECONOMIC

Tags:  EAID PREL ASEC BU 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SOFIA 001398 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL ASEC BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES HIGHER ECONOMIC
COST FROM FLOODING

Ref: (A) SOFIA 1224; (B) SOFIA 1272

UNCLAS SOFIA 001398

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL ASEC BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES HIGHER ECONOMIC
COST FROM FLOODING

Ref: (A) SOFIA 1224; (B) SOFIA 1272


1. SUMMARY: The situation in Bulgaria is slowly improving
after weeks of heavy rains and flooding. However,
conditions remain dangerous in some areas, and on August 4
the government declared a state of disaster in three
municipalities. There have been 17 flood-related deaths and
more than 60 percent of the country has been affected.
Nearly 2 thousand Bulgarians have lost their homes. The
Bulgarian government estimates the damage at nearly USD 250
million, which is considerably higher than the initial
estimate. To date the Bulgarian government has allocated
USD 10 million for immediate flood relief and has received
over USD 1 million from international organizations. The
Bulgarian government hopes that the majority of flood
assistance will come from the European Union. The U.S. is
the largest bilateral donor to date. END SUMMARY.
-------------- --------------
EXTENSIVE FLOODING: GOVERNMENT REPORTS HIGHER DAMAGES
-------------- --------------

2. A report issued by the Bulgarian government August 4
confirms that flooding was widespread, severe and
protracted, and estimates the economic cost at USD 248.7
million. Twenty-five regions (131 municipalities) sustained
significant damage, representing 63 percent of the territory
of Bulgaria. One forth of the Bulgarian population was
affected, and there were 17 flood-related deaths. The
report shows that 176 houses were completely destroyed and
396 are unfit for living. A total of 1,716 people lost
their homes and were evacuated.


3. Despite concerns by bread producers that prices would
rise due to ruined grain crops, according to a report by the
Agriculture Minister, Nihat Kabil, there was no significant
damage to agricultural production. The report states that
only 3 percent of the grain fields were flooded. The
harvest is proceeding normally and is near completion, and
there is no reason to expect higher bread prices, Kabil
said.

--------------
MUNICIPALITIES REQUEST ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE
--------------

4. The Bulgarian government has acknowledged that it cannot
cope with this natural disaster on its own, though the
Council of Ministers' emergency commission allocated 16
million Bulgarian leva for immediate flood relief (USD 10.13
million). Municipal authorities, however, have already
voiced their concern that the costs to mitigate the
consequences of the recent flooding are significantly
higher. The Association of Municipalities has requested an
additional 50 million Bulgarian leva (32 million USD) from
the central government. The additional funds are required
to cover the costs of reconstruction of municipal
infrastructure.

-------------- --------------
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO GOVERNMENT'S APPEAL FOR
ASSISTANCE
-------------- --------------

5. The Bulgarian government hopes that the European Union's
Solidarity Fund will provide a large portion of the flood
assistance (ref B). On behalf of the European Union, the UK
Presidency extended its condolences to those affected by the
recent flooding in Bulgaria and expressed its gratitude that
a number of EU member states have already provided bilateral
aid. To date, Bulgaria has received assistance from Austria
(50,000 sand bags),Greece (20,000 euros),the Czech
Republic (equipment and disinfectants worth 17,000 euros)
and Slovakia (household utensils and equipment worth USD
40,000). USAID/OFDA has donated USD 450,000, making the
U.S. the largest donor to date.


6. COMMENT: The World Health Organization's July report on
the flooding in Bulgaria notes that emergency agencies
responded rapidly and effectively to the situation.
However, internal governmental response to the flooding
highlights the lack of co-ordination between municipalities
and the central government, and this has led to a dispute
over the scale of the state's assistance. The recent crisis
also illuminated the need to improve local legislation for
handling emergency situations and to establish an early
warning system. The ad-hoc Parliamentary Flood Relief
Committee has said that current legislation and
implementation regulations related to crisis response are
ineffective, and has also questioned the structure of
national agencies that provide support in a crisis
situation. END COMMENT
LEVINE