Roma aiding flood victims in northern Czech Republic

The situation in the flooded areas is gradually calming down, and now is the time to help those afflicted. News server Romea.cz is reporting updated information from the non-profit organizations that have started coordinating aid.

The Karlovy Vary Roma Civic Association, in cooperation with Jozef Holek, the Liberec Regional National Minority Coordinator, is organizing an aid effort. “The collection center in aid of Liberec region and the other flooded areas has been set up at our Roma center, the Roma Cultural and Information Center, Západní 63, Karlovy Vary, and is open every day from 9 – 17:00. The greatest need is for bottled water, brooms, disinfectant, packaged food, pumps, and shovels,” Ladislav Bílý, chair of the Karlovy Vary Roma Civic Association, told news server Romea.cz. The aid materials collected will be delivered to the afflicted sites on Wednesday.

The ADRA humanitarian organization is aiding the flooded areas. Contributions can be sent to bank account number 4028 4028/0300, variable symbol 391. You can also send an SMS donation by sending the message DMS ADRA to phone number 87777. A crisis line for the floods is in operation at phone number 731 70 50 02 and their email is povodne@adra.cz. Volunteers interested in joining the cleanup effort can contact dobrovolnici@adra.cz.

Storm rainfall has raised river levels throughout Northern Bohemia. The Hand for Help team is heading for Hrádek nad Nisou per an arrangement with Mayor Martin Půta. Human and material support is needed, including bags, shovels and people to use them. Visit the Hand for Help headquarters, or call 777 106 432 to offer assistance.

People in Need have activated their flood teams in Liberec, Plzeň and Ústí nad Labem. They are mapping the needs of flooded municipalities in the afflicted areas and are prepared to respond to immediate requests. They are also preparing material aid packages. You can contribute to the People in Need flood account to aid people in the flooded regions, 72027202/0300, or send an SMS donation by sending the message DMS SOSPOVODNE to phone number 87777. The DMS costs CZK 30, CZK 27 of which will be sent to flood victims. For more information, see www.darcovskasms.cz.

Igor Klimeš, the main coordinator of People in Need’s flood program, is heading for North Bohemia. “We are able to deliver disinfectant, shovels, wheelbarrows and other equipment for cleaning out homes and removing flood damage. If needed we are also able to provide dehydrators at a later phase,” Klimeš said. Crisis teams and those representing the afflicted can contact People in Need at 776 460 280. The group is focusing its post-flood aid in three main areas: Providing immediate material aid and dehydration technology, financial aid to afflicted households, and support in renovating buildings of public interest.

The Czech Red Cross of Děčín has started a humanitarian aid collection for municipalities hit by flooding from the Ploučnice and Kamenice rivers. The municipalities affected are in urgent need of disinfectant, equipment and potable water. The collection is open seven days a week in the Czech Red Cross regional building at Mírové nám. 3, Děčín IV. For more information call 606 529 632.

You can contribute to the account of the public collection run by the Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren, 27196349 / 0800, variable symbol 2010, or send a donation by SMS by sending the message DMS POMOCPOVODNE to phone number 87777. For information about material and technical aid, the public can write to povodne@diakoniecce.cz or call phone number 724 515 408.

You can also offer help through the Facebook profile of internet news server ČT24 in the discussion section. Non-profit information and offerings are also available there.