Over 4000 people have been left homeless as a result of the flooding of the Danube that has burst its banks, especially in eastern Romania, where 120 towns and villages have been inundated and over 600 houses destroyed. The Romanian authorities are doing their utmost to help people and the Churches too are trying to give a hand. The Catholic Church of Bucharest and the local Caritas are already getting organized to raise funds – a collection in all churches has been planned for next Sunday, 30 April – and provide emergency aid to the stricken families, most of them Orthodox, who will be celebrating their Easter next Sunday, 23 April, in a dramatic situation. Caritas executives have spoken with the Archbishop of Bucharest Ioan Robu and have decided to ask for aid from Germany and Austria. Diocesan representatives of Caritas are due to visit the flooded areas today to ascertain the damage and assess what can be done. Caritas has already made available emergency relief supplies and medicines. If there’s a need, doctors and nurses are ready to go to the stricken areas.
