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UN agencies help 10,000 families affected by floods in Bulgaria

UN agencies help 10,000 families affected by floods in Bulgaria

United Nations agencies are assisting 10,000 Bulgarian families affected by heavy flooding following a Government request for help, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today.

United Nations agencies are assisting 10,000 Bulgarian families affected by heavy flooding following a Government request for help, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today.

The UN Country Team has found that the most urgent needs include the prevention of water-borne diseases and relief assistance to the 10,000 families whose houses have been completely or partially destroyed by floods that poured into nearly 50,000 buildings, destroyed 62 bridges and spawned 68 landslides.

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) is providing technical assistance in planning the response and conducting assessments while the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) will early next week provide materials to safeguard drinking water and prevent water-borne diseases.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) are also reviewing possible support.