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Warning of destructive floods as Danube thaw sets in, UN urges better response
22.02.2012 08:14 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
Destructive floods caused by the rapid thawing of the Danube River could add to the fatalities from an already harsh European winter, the head of the United Nations agency dealing with disaster risk reduction warned yesterday.
In a statement, Margareta Wahlström, the head of the secretariat of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), voiced concern for the consequences faced by those countries traversed by the Danube, whose sudden thaw is taking many by surprise.
«The thaw is now setting in along the Danube. While thousands of people remain snowbound from Serbia to Bulgaria, there are warning signs that destructive floods will add to the loss of life and economic assets particularly in places where there is an absence of flood management infrastructure such as dams and dikes,» Ms. Wahlström stated.
According to media reports, the quick thawing of Europe’s second longest river has sent massive ice floes careening into boats and bridges, causing widespread damage to river vessels. The cold front had previously frozen large tracts of the waterway, making it unnavigable in areas of Germany and the Balkans.
«This severe winter in which hundreds of people have died has highlighted several weaknesses in our built environment and our ability to prepare for worst-case scenarios,» Ms. Wahlström said. «Vulnerable communities across Europe have been cut off from transport, schools, health facilities and electricity in many cases.»
The cold spell which has paralyzed much of Europe also reportedly killed more than 300 people in Ukraine, Poland, France and Italy as extremely low temperatures and substantial snowfalls blanketed the continent.
Ms. Wahlström commended Bulgaria’s decision to inspect over 500 dams throughout the country and to release the water from some dams and reservoirs to contain the Danube’s eventual floodwaters.
However, she also urged governments to undertake better planning for the possibility of future extreme winter weather patterns
«The unpredictability of severe weather events leads to high human and financial costs,» she added. «More focus on winterisation planning will be a wise investment in the coming years.»
19.02.2025 |
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10:43 |
“Bold investments” needed to address challenging nutritional burden in Africa, FAO says |
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07:13 |
Green Climate Fund greenlights two major FAO-led projects to strengthen climate resilience in Kenya and Serbia |
12.02.2025 |
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10:01 |
China Corn Imports Fall on Weaker Domestic Demand |
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09:06 |
China’s Imported Oilseed Meal Supplies Shift Slightly to Mid-Protein Meals |
08.02.2025 |
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18:20 |
Cereal stocks set to decline in 2024/25 due to anticipated reductions in wheat and maize inventories |
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18:00 |
FAO Food Price index declined in January 2025, mostly due to lower sugar, vegetable oil and meat prices |
06.02.2025 |
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16:28 |
Ukraine considers SCZone site for food hub in Egypt – ministry |
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16:16 |
Since the beginning of 2025, 549 agricultural enterprises have received UAH 2.3 billion under the Affordable Loans at 5-7-9 programme published |
03.02.2025 |
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23:55 |
Ukraine's Ministry of Agrarian policy allocates sugar export quotas to EU |
31.01.2025 |
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17:20 |
Global orange production for 2024/25 is forecast down 662,000 tons to 45.2 MT |
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17:15 |
Argentina Lemon/Lime Exports Continue to Decline |
24.01.2025 |
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16:38 |
Ukraine’s agricultural sector earned $24.5 bln in 2024, setting second historical record |
23.01.2025 |
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15:46 |
Eurobarometer survey shows strong support for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) |
22.01.2025 |
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20:54 |
Since the beginning of 2025, 117 agricultural enterprises have received UAH 318.7 million under the Affordable Loans at 5-7-9 programme |
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20:43 |
Ukrainian agricultural land needs to be cleared and returned to circulation as soon as possible |
21.01.2025 |
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21:45 |
A groundbreaking new study, “Governance and resilience as entry points for transforming food systems in the countdown to 2030”. Key Findings |
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21:37 |
Nitrogen use efficiency must be improved to reduce harm to human and environmental health |
11.01.2025 |
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11:16 |
Russia Grain Export Quota to Curb Wheat Exports in 2025 |
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09:12 |
Iraq Emerges as a Soybean Importer |
08.01.2025 |
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22:13 |
FAO Food Price Index dips during the month of December |
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18:49 |
FAO calls for urgent action to address widening famine in Sudan |
22.12.2024 |
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05:26 |
FAO transfers 185 generators, 6,474 grain hoses to Ukrainian farmers in 2024 |
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03:53 |
The EU agri-food trade surplus increased by 15% in September 2024, reaching EUR 6 billion |
19.12.2024 |
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09:05 |
World coffee production for 2024/25 is forecast 6.9 million bags higher |
18.12.2024 |
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23:11 |
China’s Expanding Coffee Consumption |
17.12.2024 |
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22:37 |
Bangladesh Soybean Import Recovery Expected to Continue |
14.12.2024 |
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21:03 |
World apple production for 2024/25 is forecast to fall nearly 350,000 tons to 84.0 million |
13.12.2024 |
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09:11 |
U.S. Fresh Pear Exports Fall on Historically Low Harvest |
10.12.2024 |
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21:03 |
Indonesia Grain Imports to Subside after 2023/24 Record |
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08:14 |
Higher vegetable oil quotations drive up FAO Food Price Index, but lower cereal and sugar prices temper the rise |
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07:45 |
Cereal trade revised downwards amid weaker demand |
02.12.2024 |
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23:17 |
Prime Minister: Some 50 partner countries have joined the humanitarian demining coalition |
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22:56 |
Norway pledges additional $4.5 mln to Ukraine's Grain from Ukraine initiative |
01.12.2024 |
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03:30 |
EU agri-food trade slowed down in August 2024 |
26.11.2024 |
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00:06 |
Global sugar production, compared to last year, is estimated up 2.8 million tons to 186.6 million |
24.11.2024 |
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04:43 |
During the Operation of Our Grain From Ukraine Program, We Have Managed to Save 20 Million People from Hunger – Zelenskyy |
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04:15 |
Ukraine Is Ready to Share Technologies, Military Experiences and Processing Methods with African Countries – the President |
22.11.2024 |
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10:15 |
South Africa Sugar Production and Exports Estimated Down |
19.11.2024 |
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23:04 |
Global Olive Oil Production Forecast to Rebound in 2024/25 |
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22:47 |
Vitalii Koval discusses Ukraine's European integration with European colleagues |
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16:06 |
EBRD, European Union and United States help Kyiv prepare for winter |
18.11.2024 |
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09:21 |
Agriculture Development Strategy 2030 – a roadmap to the EU |
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09:19 |
Ukrainian farmers have sown 96% of projected winter crop area |
01.11.2024 |
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20:31 |
Ukraine has officially joined the International Fund for Agricultural Development |
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20:29 |
Ukrainian farmers harvested 63.7 million tonnes of grains and oilseeds |
25.10.2024 |
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22:50 |
Agriculture hit hard: October port strikes rack up 30-40 million dollars in losses |
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21:04 |
Ministry of Agrarian Policy expects exports to rise in dollar terms |
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10:57 |
Ukrainian corn seed flows to Europe in further farm trade shift |
24.10.2024 |
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23:02 |
Tree Nut Import Markets Highly Concentrated |
23.10.2024 |
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11:18 |
Prime Minister UK warns Russian threat to global stability is accelerating as Putin ramps up attacks on Black Sea |
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