Moldova Drought Aid Continues

Families in Moldova continue to receive emergency assistance from United Nations humanitarian agencies in response to last summer's extreme drought. In the latest phase of a multi-step relief program, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has supplied more than 30,000 farms with enough seed corn to allow for the upcoming spring season planting, and 9,000 tons of livestock fodder to over 20,000 households. So far, over 135,000 people have received assistance.

Organization of relief efforts has been provided by UNDP, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and the World Food Programme (WFP) in response to last July's appeal from the Moldovan government.

Moldova is Europe's poorest country, and its economy is heavily dependent on agriculture. With rainfall totals 50-75% below average, the drought affected approximately 84% of the country's arable land. A study by the International Money Fund (IMF) found that as a result of the drought, the Moldovan agricultural sector lost approximately 100,000 jobs.