MOLDOVA RED CROSS SOCIETY

TWICE CHRISTMAS 2012 FINAL REPORT

Supported by Swiss Red Cross

CHISINU 2012

Organization: Moldova Red Cross Society 1

Operation: Twice Christmas 2012 Duration: April - July 2012 Project implementation/planning: Poverty affects the Republic of Moldova since the first years of its establishment.This year proved to be even more difficult than the previous one, being marked by poverty and lack of social optimism. According to a survey performed by organization IDIS Viitorul (Institute for Development and Social Initiatives), 51% from the surveyed have indicated poverty as the main problem affecting their day-by-day life. Poverty remains one of the most stringent problems of moldovan society, representing a multi-dimensional phenomenon which includes a range of other essential aspects,as: low income, lack of well-paid jobs, inadequate living standards, insufficient food, poor health, limited acces to education, as well as vulnerability to natural disasters and economic crises associated with future incertainty. The most worrying now is that poverty affects not only the vulnerable categories of population, such as: elderly, people with disabilities, persons with no education and vocation, unemployed, but it also spreads among people able to work. This is caused by the lack of good jobs, low productivity in agrarian sector, difficulty in obtaining credit resources, lack of adequate social services. In comparison with bigger cities, poverty rate in rural communities is twice higher due to low agricultural productivity and reduced employment opportunities in other fields than agricultural, the poorest being employees of agricultural sector, farmers and pensioners. One of the main reasons leading to poverty is the high living cost in the Republic of Moldova. According to the report issued by the World Bank, the Republic of Moldova registers the highest increase in prices among the south-eastern european countries. This phenomenon has profound social consequences, the most affected being the vulnerable layers of population, as well as the middle class. In the context of poverty, the elderly in Moldova constitute one of the most disadvantaged category of population. Their situation is even more aggravated by increased prices at utilities, taking into consideration the small pension they have. Actual pensions cover in average only 56% from subsistence minimum. Due to high inflation, the purchase capacity of elderly is reducing, even if pensions are annually indexed. Thus, elderly can not meet their minimum needs and pension becomes synonim to poverty. The situation of solitary elderly is the most dramatic one they can not even cover their basic needs. According to the legislation of the Republic of Moldova, the social protection of population represents the responsibility of central and local administrative authorities. Still, there are cases when social assistance does not comply with the real needs of the elderly food, clothes, shelter, medical care, acces to public

services and utilities. State authorities justify their inability to support the elderly through insufficiency of funds. Gravity of present situation in the Republic of Moldova is reflected by poverty rate of children. Nowadays, children in the Republic of Moldova constitute a specially vulnerable category being seriously affected by poverty (children make up one third from the poor population). Moldova Red Cross, being financially supported by Swiss Red Cross tries to support the most vulnerable people through implementation of Twice Christmas operation which foresees distribution of humanitarian aid. Beneficiaries: pensioners with minimum pensions, people with disabilities, people without shelter, orphans, multi-children families and other vulnerable categories. Output: humanitarian aid has been received and distributed through Red Cross branches. Between April and July 2012, 12 branches of Moldova Red Cross have been distributed the following: food products, hygienic items, shoes, 2nd hand clothes, stationary materials and toys. Direct beneficiaries: 5072 families (13382 beneficiaries) including: multichildren families - 1893, people with disabilities - 1124, solitary elderly -1058, orphans 232 , single mothers with low income - 765. Clrai RC branch: total population 79721 disabled 4010 solitary elderly - 821 orphans 149 multi-children families 241 Number of beneficiaries - 359 families (1100 persons) including: solitary elderly 124 orphans -10 multi-children families 98 disabled - 110 single mothers with low income 17

Rezina RC branch: total population - 40425 pensioners 9400 disabled 4021 solitary elderly - 987 orphans 37 multi-children families 241 single mothers with low income Beneficiaries: 752 families (1594 persons) including: solitary elderly 200 orphans - 15 multi-children families 157 disabled - 180 single mothers with low income 200 Tighina Red Cross branch: total population - 136000 disabled 7482 solitary elderly - 549 orphans 212 multi-children families 1489 single mothers with low income 211 Beneficiaries: 200 families (600 persons) including: solitary elderly 46 orphans 7 multi-children families 20

 disabled - 70 single mothers with low income 57 Glodeni Red Cross branch: total population - 60602 disabled 6320 solitary elderly - 710 disabled 234 multi-children families 1461 disabled children 270 Beneficiaries: 293 famillies (846 persons) including: solitary elderly 74 orphans - 6 multi-children families 84 disabled - 85 single mothers with low income - 44 Soroca Red Cross branch: total population -101330 disabled 6042 solitary elderly - 1062 orphans 298 multi-children families 402 single parent families - 312 Beneficiaries: 150 families (450 persons) including: solitary elderly 60

 orphans - 3 multi-children families 23 disabled - 41 single mothers with low income - 23 Ungheni Red Cross branch: total population -118656 disabled 7502 solitary elderly - 1607 multi-children families 815 single mothers with low income - 249 Beneficiaries: 1034 families (2061 persons) including: solitary elderly 93 orphans- 22 multi-children families 697 disabled - 123 single parent families with low income - 99

Anenii-Noi Red Cross branch: total population - 87290 disabled 1572 solitary elderly - 85 orphans 12 multi-children families 89 single parent families with low income - 82 Beneficiaries: 221 families (515 persons) including:

 solitary elderly 46 orphans - 14

multi-children families 65 disabled - 72 single mothers with low income 24 Basarabeasca Red Cross branch: total population - 13286 disabled 527 solitary elderly - 201 orphans 28 single mothers with low income - 78 multi-children families - 245 Beneficiaries: 384 families (1119 persons) including: solitary elderly 101 orphans - 23 multi-children families 71 disabled 129 single mothers with low income - 60 Briceni Red Cross branch: total population - 76800 disabled 4601 solitary elderly -367 orphans 34 multi-children families 78 single mothers with low income - 43

Beneficiaries: 217 families (461 persons) including: solitary elderly 80 orphans - 12 multi-children families 45 disabled - 69 single mothers with low income - 11 Criuleni Red Cross branch: total population - 73102 disabled 3812 solitary elderly -571 orphans 85 multi-children families 290 single mothers with low income -190 Beneficiaries: 232 families (696 persons) including: solitary elderly 45 orphans - 10 multi-children families 81 disabled - 45 single mothers with low income -51

Dondueni Red Cross branch: total population - 33770 disabled 2260 solitary elderly - 892 orphans 70 8

 multi-children families 388 single mothers with low income -172 Beneficiaries: 690 families (2320 persons) including: solitary elderly 104 orphans - 67 multi-children families202 disabled - 155 single mothers with low income - 162 Teleneti Red Cross branch: total population - 84400 disabled 5540 solitary elderly - 308 orphans 49 multi-children families 378 single mothers with low income - 21 Beneficiaries: 540 families (1620 persons) including: solitary elderly 85 multi-children families 350 disabled - 45 single mothers with low income -17 orphans - 43 Beneficiaries have been selected among people with disabilities, orphan children, solitary elderly, multi-children families and single parent families with low income. After receiving the humanitarian aid, branch directors and visiting nurses have distributed it to the most affected persons according to the lists issued by district

commissions for humanitarian aid. During the ditribution of humanitarian aid, beneficiaries have been informed about the donor Swiss Red Cross. Between April and July 2012, the project implementation team has made monitoring visits in order to estimate the visibility and corectitude of distribution. Beneficiaries have also been monitored. They have confirmed that humanitarian aid is being distributed according to the Twice Christmas operation, quantitatively and qualitatively. Also, monitored beneficiaries proved to be familiar with the operation donor Swiss Red Cross, to whom they convey great gratitude. Partners : District and local public authorities Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child Non-governmental organizations Territorial commissions for humanitarian aid Departments of social assistance

Due to the efficient structure of Moldova Red Cross, namely: the existence of branches and primary organizations in each district, along the distribution period, it was possible to create a cooperation network with local public authorities. Also, a fruitful collaboration was built between departments of social assistance, Red Cross primary organizations and branches, which have contributed together to reaching operation objectives. Thus, a strong partnership was constituted between Red Cross branches, local public administrations, non-governmental organizations (Association of Veterans, Association of Blind People, Association of Disabled, Association of Deaf People), local medical organizations (medical counselling for children and adults). Impact: Positive impact on the vulnerable population who benefitted of support from Moldova Red Cross, contributing to diminishing their vulnerability (as confirmation gratitude letters); Potential of Moldova Red Cross as a strong humanitarian organization increased. Also, did the number of volunteers. New cooperation relations have been established. Difficulties:

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As during previous operations, we would like to state the incapacity of Moldova Red Cross to serve and support more beneficiaries as the needs are tremendously high and continuously increasing. Future plans: Moldova Red Cross seeks the increase of beneficiaries which would avoid future complaints from the side of vulnerable people.

The following districts have benefitted of humanitarian aid received in the framework of Twice Christmas operation 2012: Edine, Bali,Tiraspol, Glodeni, Ungheni , Basarabeasca, Briceni, Orhei, Calarai, Leova, Comrat, Criuleni, Fleti, Dondueni, Bender, Soroca, Chiinu. The following have been received: 12153 kg on the amount of 301 889 MDL including : Fruit salad Chocolate Rice Pasta Sugar Sationary materials Second hand clothes for children, men and women Hygienic items: soap, shampoo, tooth brushes Second hand bed linen

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