Christmas gifts come by boat to isolated Romanian Danube Delta villages | Inquirer News

Christmas gifts come by boat to isolated Romanian Danube Delta villages

/ 05:06 PM December 23, 2022

Christmas gifts come by boat to Romanian children in Danube Delta

Romanian coast guard deliver Christmas presents to villagers at an unspecified location, along the Danube delta, Romania December 20, 2022. REUTERS/Anca Cernat

C.A. ROSETTI, Romania — For the elderly living in remote villages in the Danube Delta, one of the world’s largest wetlands, winter is a time of isolation. This year, they are also struggling to cope with a shortage of firewood and rising food prices.

So, days before Christmas, Romanian coast guard officers braced against icy winds to deliver care packages of food and cleaning staples as well as fruits and sweets to some of the most vulnerable villagers.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Danube Delta, sprung where the river meets the Black Sea, straddles the Romanian-Ukrainian border.

FEATURED STORIES
Christmas gifts come by boat to Romanian children in Danube Delta

Romanian coast guard deliver Christmas presents to villagers at an unspecified location, along the Danube delta, Romania December 20, 2022. REUTERS/Anca Cernat

A UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Europe’s most biodiverse regions, it is also home to impoverished villages where the aging population living off fishing and subsistence farming lacks indoor plumbing and access to healthcare.

The village of C.A. Rosetti, connected to the world by narrow Danube canals and a thin dirt road, has about 150 people left.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Everybody is waiting for Christmas joyfully, but everything has gotten expensive, pensions are small, it is difficult with heating,” said 76-year-old Maria Parmac, a teacher for over four decades. “There are very few children singing carols, the village has aged.”

Article continues after this advertisement

In the nearby village of Sistofca, 72-year-old Marfa Halkin, one of 23 people remaining, said even priests have stopped visiting the local church.

Article continues after this advertisement

So the arrival of the coast guard bearing gifts will be warmly welcomed.

“The Sulina coast guard want to bring a little joy in people’s homes for the holidays in the isolated villages of the Danube Delta,” said Chief Inspector Razvan Duta.

RELATED STORIES:

How the rest of the world celebrates Christmas

LIST: Safety tips to avoid electrical accidents during Christmas, New Year

JMS
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: Christmas, Romania, world news

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.