European Union and UNDP support Cahul and Ungheni municipalities as well as their neighbouring communities in the fight against the new coronavirus

The European Union supports urgent measures to prevent and control the spread of the new coronavirus in 90 partner communities of the „EU4Moldova: Key Regions" and „EU: Confidence-Building Measures" Programmes, funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP.

A first batch of 23,200 masks, 20,000 pairs of shoe covers, 1,400 protective uniforms, 80 thermometers for remote temperature monitoring, two spirometers, two portable electrocardiographs, two sterilizers, and 9,000 liters of disinfectant, purchased from European funds, was offered to the rayons of Cahul and Ungheni, as well as to some medical centers from both banks of the Nistru/Dniester river.

The protective equipment will help reduce the risk of infection that people on the front line of countering COVID-19 face every day: medical staff, local public authorities. Local volunteers, as well as people from vulnerable groups, will also benefit.

The assistance, amounting to a total of EUR 100,000, was provided under the "EU4Moldova: Key Regions" and "EU: Confidence Building Measures" programmes, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme.

"The European Union supports the Republic of Moldova in the fight against the new coronavirus. The personal protective equipment, as well as the set of medical equipment offered by us, come to help the people on the front line who endanger their own safety to save lives during a pandemic. It is a model of local, regional and global solidarity. However, this pandemic cannot be stopped by the effort of a single country. This assistance is in addition to the recently announced assistance that the European Union will provide to the Member States of the Eastern Partnership. Together we are stronger, "said Peter Michalko, the European Union's ambassador to Moldova.

"The government is concerned about the health of people on both banks of the Dniester. We are grateful to the development partners for their prompt and flexible assistance, as well as for coordinating the response to limiting the pandemic, "said Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, Cristina Lesnic.

"The dynamics of the cases of infection show us that the situation is alarming, and local authorities and medical institutions are not adequately equipped to provide treatment to people infected with the new coronavirus. We are grateful to the EU and UNDP for their prompt intervention and support. I come back with the same message addressed to our citizens: be responsible and respect the decisions of the competent institutions in emergency situations ", says Nicolae Dandiş, mayor of Cahul municipality.

"We need external help given that budget revenues have fallen sharply during this period. We must admit that no one was prepared to deal with this epidemic. It is a new experience for all of us. We make decisions in response to the created situation, which changes from day to day. We try to cope with things with the help of the resources currently available in order to reduce the risk of spreading the infection. Everyone must be aware of the danger and, through their own behavior, minimize the effects of this pandemic ", says Alexandru Ambros, mayor of Ungheni municipality.

The „EU4Moldova: Key Regions" programme (2019-2025) supports smart, inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development in the Cahul and Ungheni regions, in order to provide citizens with new opportunities and a better quality of life.

The EU's "Confidence Building Measures" programme (2019-2021) aims to bring people closer on both banks of the Dniester River through their involvement in joint development projects.

As part of its global response to the coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission is with the Eastern Partnership countries and has reallocated EUR 140 million for immediate needs, including for the Republic of Moldova. At the same time, the European Commission will redirect the use of existing instruments worth up to EUR 700 million throughout the region to help mitigate the socio-economic impact of the coronavirus crisis.