International post-disaster needs assessment mechanism launched in Chișinău following Dniester river pollution crisis

The National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC) has initiated the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) process following the pollution crisis of the Dniester River with petroleum products in the spring of 2026. In this way, the Republic of Moldova is moving towards a model in which the impact of crises is rigorously assessed and lessons learned are transformed into long-term resilience measures.

PDNA is a structured post-crisis assessment mechanism that involves evaluating the impact of disasters and major crises, estimating damages and losses, as well as identifying recovery needs and measures to strengthen resilience.

The mechanism is being launched in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and other UN entities. The process is coordinated at the national level by the NCMC and involves a working group of approximately 40 members, bringing together representatives of 18 specialized authorities and institutions, as well as around 10 international experts. The working group is divided by sectoral areas, including: environment; water, sanitation and health; agriculture; disaster risk reduction; human, gender and livelihoods impact; macroeconomic impact.

The assessment will take place throughout June 2026 through a structured process of data collection and analysis.

“Beyond analysing the current situation, the exercise also has a role in systemic learning: testing the way of working; aligning methodologies between institutions and partners; identifying practices that can be replicated and applied in future crisis situations; as well as improving national response and recovery capacity,” the NCMC said.

At the same time, according to the institution, the conclusions of the exercise will help define a national vision for strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure associated with water resources, with the objective of reducing vulnerabilities and increasing the capacity for prevention, preparedness, and response to risks that may affect aquatic systems and nearby communities.

The launch of the mechanism marks the second activation of the PDNA process in the Republic of Moldova. The first such assessment was carried out in 2010, following severe floods that affected several localities in the country. After a period of more than 15 years, the Republic of Moldova is reactivating this strategic instrument to analyse the impact of a complex crisis and to underpin the necessary measures for recovery and prevention of future risks.

The contamination of the Dniester River with petroleum substances occurred in March this year, after a Russian attack on a hydropower plant in Ukraine. As a result of the incident, the pollutant entered the river’s course and began moving towards the territory of the Republic of Moldova. Under these circumstances, the authorities in Chișinău mobilized intervention teams and initiated measures to monitor and limit the pollution, including the installation of filters and barriers to capture petroleum substances.