MD-ALERT: Moldova to have national emergency warning system

In emergency situations, citizens of the Republic of Moldova located in risk areas will receive warning messages directly on their mobile phones. The Government has approved the concept for the public warning system “MD-ALERT”, which will allow rapid information of the population in case of danger.

At present, our country does not have an efficient public warning mechanism capable of transmitting real-time messages to the population in risk situations such as floods, extreme heat waves or heavy rainfall. In this context, the establishment of a modern alert system becomes a necessity for protecting the lives and safety of citizens.

The MD-ALERT system will become operational in 2027, will function through mobile communication networks and will use modern technologies that allow messages to be sent directly to people in the targeted areas. The installation of additional applications will not be necessary. Thus, the population will be informed quickly, and the authorities will be able to intervene more efficiently.

The estimated cost for the implementation of MD-ALERT system is about 5 million euros, an amount which also includes maintenance for the first 5 years and is fully covered by a loan granted by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. After this period expires, the maintenance costs, estimated at around 340 thousand euros per year, will be covered from the state budget.

Also today, the Government approved the National Civil Protection Development Program for 2026–2030 – a document that sets out the actions for improving prevention and intervention measures in emergency situations. The program focuses on the development of warning mechanisms, the improvement of resource management, and the increase of the preparedness level of the population and the authorities.

In addition, the document provides for better coordination between institutions and alignment with European standards, so that interventions are faster and more efficient and the impact of disasters is reduced.