Following the petroleum pollution crisis that affected the Nistru River in the spring of 2026, the National Crisis Management Center (CNMC) has initiated the Post‑Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) process, in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and other UN entities, TRIBUNA reports.

In line with international practice, the PDNA is a structured post‑crisis assessment mechanism that evaluates the impact of disasters and major crises, estimates damages and losses, and identifies recovery needs and measures to strengthen resilience.

Thus, instead of remaining at the level of immediate response, the Republic of Moldova is moving toward a model in which the impact of crises is rigorously assessed, and lessons learned are translated into long‑term resilience measures, in accordance with Article 22 of Law No. 248/2025 on crisis management.

The process is coordinated nationally by the CNMC and involves a working group of approximately 40 members, bringing together representatives of 18 authorities and specialized institutions, as well as around 10 international experts. The working group is organized by sector, covering: environment; water, sanitation and health; agriculture; disaster risk reduction; human, gender and livelihood impacts; and macroeconomic impact.

The PDNA is activated once the necessary conditions for a full assessment have been met, including the stabilization of information flows from the field and coordination with development partners. The evaluation will take place throughout June 2026 through a structured process of data collection and analysis.

This marks the second activation of the PDNA mechanism in the Republic of Moldova. The first assessment of this kind was carried out in 2010, following severe floods that affected several localities across the country. After more than 15 years, Moldova is reactivating this strategic instrument to analyze the impact of a complex crisis and to underpin the measures needed for recovery and for preventing future risks.

Beyond assessing the current situation, the exercise also serves as a systemic learning process: testing workflows; aligning methodologies across institutions and partners; identifying practices that can be replicated in future crises; and strengthening national response and recovery capacities.

Furthermore, the conclusions of the exercise will contribute to shaping a national vision for strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure related to water resources, with the aim of reducing vulnerabilities and increasing the capacity for prevention, preparedness, and response to risks that may affect aquatic systems and nearby communities.