A homeless man died from hypothermia in Chisinau last night. Another five persons needed medical care after freezing as a result of the extreme cold. Now that the weather grew colder, the Center for Homeless Persons located on Haltei St in Chisinau is packed.
Head of the Emergency Medicine Department Igor Curov has told IPN that the victims suffered frostbite on the legs. One of the patients could not be saved as he was in a critical state. Most of the victims are homeless persons.
The Center for Homeless Persons is now popular with vagrants who come to warm themselves, eat and sleep there. Contacted by IPN, the Center’s manager Rostislav Chelmenciuc said the asylum can accommodate up to 70 persons. When there are more applicants, the Center’s employees improvise additional sleeping places. The beneficiaries of the Center are persons of different ages, both women and men. Some of them come by themselves, while others are brought by the police or ambulance doctors.
Rostislav Chelmenciuc noted that the persons who come to the Center are served two meals and hot tea. They can take a shower and can sleep there. The beneficiaries can stay at the Center for several months. Under an order made by the mayor general of Chisinau, the homeless persons can be accommodated there at any hour and on any day of the week.
Forecasters said the temperatures the coming night will drop to -19 degrees Celsius.
