**Update:** Romania's Civil Protection Shelters in Shambles, Accommodating Only Up to 600,000 Individuals
Title: The Shocking Truth Behind Romania's Armed Conflict Shelters
In a blunt expose, the Romanian Court of Accounts has revealed that the nation's civil shelters, meant for the protection of citizens in times of war, are scarce, outdated, and often unhygienic. The eye-opening report was released on April 3, 2025, leaving the authorities in a tight spot.
The Court's audit, conducted over the past year and covering the period 2021-2023, found that the total number of these crucial shelters remains unknown, as no such inventory has been conducted in recent years. The risk of armed conflict and the designated authority for preparing for civilian sheltering in such situations have not been defined, the report suggests.
Currently, many shelters remain stuck in the era of the 1970s, with regulations and equipment unchanged despite advancements in technology. The staggering truth is that, with most local public authorities not having inventory lists, many shelters have been converted into storage spaces, or are simply impractical or unsanitary.
In case of an air attack, only 3.21% (611,922 people) of people in Romania, sheltering in specially built shelters, would be adequately protected. The situation improves slightly to 5.19% (989,507 people) when considering other potential shelter spaces like metro stations, parking lots, or underground tunnels.
Troublingly, out of a total of 5,072 civil protection shelters, half are non-operational. A whopping 73% were built before 1990, highlighting the urgent need for an overhaul.
The General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) is responsible for verifying the shelter stock. However, fines for identified deficiencies have not been effective in convincing real estate developers to comply.
The title of the report, "Civil Defence Shelters Between Reality and Necessity," underscores the striking disparity between the existing infrastructure and the legal and operational requirements. The report recommends the development of a comprehensive National Concept for Sheltering the Population in Situations of Armed Conflict to address the concerning gap.
(Photo source: Savo Ilic | Dreamstime.com)
[1] [access link here][3] [EU-related audit materials link here][4] [migration solidarity reports link here]
- Despite the revelations by the Romanian Court of Accounts about the deficiencies in Romanian civil shelters, there seems to be no concrete inventory or definition of the authority responsible for preparing for civilian sheltering in the event of armed conflict.
- Surprisingly, half of the 5,072 civil protection shelters in Romania are reported as non-operational, with 73% of them built before 1990, showing an immediate need for improvements.
- The report, titled "Civil Defence Shelters Between Reality and Necessity," points out the significant gap between the existing infrastructure and its legal and operational requirements, suggesting the development of a National Concept for Sheltering the Population in Situations of Armed Conflict.
- In light of the poor conditions and the unknown number of available shelters, only a small fraction of the Romanian population would be adequately protected in the event of an air attack, as per the report.
- The General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) was tasked with verifying the shelter stock, but fines for identified deficiencies appear ineffective in driving compliance from real estate developers in the domain of health and wellness and general news, especially concerning medical-conditions and science.
