OSCE Mission to Moldova gives heating oil to social institutions

CHISINAU, 12 January 2009 - The OSCE Mission to Moldova has given heating oil as humanitarian aid to three social institutions on the left bank of the Nistru/Dniestr river to help them overcome shortages caused by the ongoing gas dispute.

"In times of humanitarian crisis, it is important that everybody works together. The OSCE Mission is doing its part," said Ambassador Philip Remler, the Head of the Mission.

On 10 January, the Mission received a request for humanitarian aid from both the Moldovan and Transdniestrian authorities. The Republican Rehabilitation Centre and the Psycho-neurological Boarding School in Cocieri near Dubasari, both heated by the same heating plant, were disconnected from the gas network on 10 January and switched to diesel fuel. The hospital for war invalids in Tiraspol faced the same challenge.

The Mission purchased and delivered to both institutions 4,000 liters of diesel oil for heating. The two institutions in Corjova have 510 patients and the Tiraspol hospital respectively 70 patients.