Brussels, 19/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - European solidarity is going from strength to strength to help the Bosnian and Serbian authorities to fight the devastating flooding which followed the heaviest rainfall the Balkans have seen in the last 120 years (see EUROPE 11081). Fourteen member states have responded to calls for assistance made by the authorities of the two countries to the civil protection mechanism of the EU. They have even gone beyond the assistance requested, the European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva, announced on Monday 19 May. Speaking before the European press, she described the disaster as a “tragedy which has affected hundreds of thousands of people” and pledged to visit the region (our translation throughout).
She also took the opportunity to express her sincerest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and her “solidarity with all those left homeless and dependent on aid to survive”. She also welcomed the rapid intervention of the authorities, “the very strong mobilisation locally and the bravery of those who have turned out to help”. She added that the Serbian Prime Minister, whom she has met, has also expressed the same message.
“A request for additional aid was received on Saturday 17 May. So far, 14 member states have responded by providing helicopters, high-capacity water pumps, tents, water purification equipment and around 450 European rescuers. A team of civil protection experts is on the ground in Bosnia and Serbia to provide coordination. We have deployed more than was requested, because the situation has significantly deteriorated. The weather forecasts predict a drier period, which means that snow will continue to melt on the mountains. We are already thinking about what we will have to do in the next days and weeks, once the water levels have dropped”, said the Commissioner.
As soon as they were received, the requests for assistance were distributed via the EU's emergency coordination and intervention centre, which operates 24 hours a day. Bulgaria, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have deployed rescue boats, high-capacity pumps and operational teams to Serbia.
Slovenia, Austria, Luxembourg, the UK, Slovakia, Belgium and Germany responded to the request of Bosnia & Herzegovina for helicopters and a number of motorboats to support the evacuation of residents and for the transportation of drinking water, medicines and food. Georgieva said that there was a water pollution problem and the risk of landslides in Bosnia. At the moment, needs assessments are being carried out “so that our aid can be properly targeted, as regards emergency aid, but time for reconstruction will come”, she added. Commissioner Stefan Füle, who is responsible for the Neighbourhood policy, is already planning pre-accession aid for Serbia. The European solidarity fund may also be mobilised, if the damage exceeds 1.6% of the GDP of the countries affected. The floods have left at least six people dead and have affected around 600,000 people in Serbia. In Bosnia & Herzegovina, more than 6,000 people have been evacuated and it is estimated that more than 50,000 people could be affected by the flooding and landslides (our translation throughout). (AN)