World Vision reports that of Romania's 42 counties, 32 are suffering from severe drought.

The international relief agency is now trying to work with the authorities and non-government organisations to help people seriously affected by this year's drought. Last year, World Vision helped hundreds of families recover from last floods.

Several ministries have issued a request to all NGOs to contribute and help in any way they can. Five World Vision supported communities are also impacted and World Vision is starting a relief assessment in order to respond adequately.

Iasi County is one of the most affected in the country, with 46 of its 98 communes confronted with lack of water supplies, dried pastures and extreme heath.

"We are desperate; there is no hope for us now," said the Mayor of Golaiesti, one of the five communities in which World Vision is present. "Over 2,000 hectares of crops are beyond hope. Some 1,000 families find themselves unable to feed their animals.

"As a direct consequence, they are forced to sell them for prices two or three times less than their real value.

"I can't imagine how they will get through winter without food for their animals and also for their children," he said.

World Vision's Iasi Area Development Programme in north east Romania, some 400 kilometres north of the capital Bucharest, has been affected by the heatwave.

"Trying to limit the effects of the drought, World Vision is currently assessing the situation so that it can support the local authorities in fighting the severe consequences of this phenomenon," said Octavian Filip, Iasi ADP manager.

"World Vision is preparing to support over 250 families with fodder for their animals and clean water," said Eugen Borlea, Relief Manager for World Vision in Romania. "This will allow them to keep their animals and get through this hard time."

The relief response for the approximate 1,250 people is likely to last at least one month, although a more detailed plan will be available once assessments are complete.

Experts say this summer will be more arid than 1946. By March 1947, more than 90 per cent of the population in the south of Moldavia, a former north eastern region, was suffering from hunger, following the destruction of the previous year's crops. Temperatures over 55 degrees Celsius were registered for days in a row.

This year, the situation appears to be even more critical, with the level of humidity in the soil being two times lower because of the lack of rain, according to the Romanian Agrometeorology Laboratory.

Meteorologists predict temperatures will remain high. Hopes for rain are almost inexistent. Experts say the lack of water in the soil would be hard to compensate even in the case of heavy rains.

Analyses of underground water supplies show that, from the beginning of June, the levels have decreased 5-20 metres. Over 32,000 wells in Iasi County were dry, 550 kilometres of river course dried up and 35 small rivers have vanished.

Pastures in 30 villages have wilted and people have started slaughtering their cows and poultry because they can not feed them anymore and because they are scared of famine.

Meteorologists predict that during the two next months, the situation in the north and north east of the country will continue to be alarming.

At a national level, the drought has destroyed over 19,000 hectares of spring crops and over 10,000 hectares are 50 per cent compromised. Of 19,000 hectares of fall crops, over 8,500 are destroyed.