Belgium provides 43 floating barriers, 3 skimmers to collect oil products and 11 storage tanks. According to Belgian media, emergency assistance is provided through B-FAST (Belgian First Aid and Support Team).
At the same time, according to the EU Delegation in Moldova, Slovakia sent 42 protective barriers, 10 gasoline sludge pumps, 220 liters of Bioversal solution and 30 drinking water tanks.
Earlier, Romania, Luxembourg, Poland and Germany provided assistance. Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu also mentioned France.
It should be noted that the Moldovan government initiated the activation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism for rapid response on March 13. On the same day, requests were sent through diplomatic missions.
Only on March 19, the European Council issued conclusions, where it says that it is “ready to assist Moldova in mitigating environmental impacts, including through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism”. In doing so, the Council “welcomed the immediate support provided by the Member States”.
Speaking in Parliament, Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu made it clear that bilateral channels with countries allow for faster resolution of issues.
As a reminder, in early March, a spill of oil products in the Dniester River, caused by Russia’s attack on the hydroelectric power plant in Novodnestrovsk (Ukraine), led to massive water pollution in the river, the suspension of water intake and the introduction of a high alert regime. Experts confirmed the presence of benzene, toluene, methylbenzene and xylene – derivatives of light petroleum products.
