In the mountains, residents need engineering machinery, excavators to clear the roads and rebuild their homes. “The earth was so much soaked with rain water that when land slides occurred, the earth moved down together with the forests. The forests were swimming.” Ruslana says.

Villages struck by the flood are covered with a layer of mud. Water remaining in low places rots and might cause outbreaks of diseases. Locals do not have pumps to pump the water out. The vegetation on flooded areas also rots, with the stench of decomposing plants and vegetables engulfing the whole area, Ruslana adds.

The soil and water wells must be urgently cleaned from mud, but there is no equipment to do this. Residents survive on their own winter supplies of canned food made before the flood. Many who lost their homes live in village schools and clubs.