EU increases aid for flood victims in Serbia and Bosnia

Water pumps, rescue boats and operational teams have been sent by member states to provide help to the victims.

The European Union has increased its assistance for the flood victims in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina: nineteen member states have sent relief workers and provided assistance to the affected areas. The countries are coping with the worst flooding in more than a century, and at least 40 people have died.

In just a few days from 13 May, three months’ worth of rain fell on the region, causing the river Sava to burst its banks and forcing thousands to evacuate their homes. The water is slowly receding, but the situation remains complex, with continuing landslides.

Funds were made available on 17 May through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism programme to provide assistance to the affected areas. In response to Serbia’s request, high-capacity water pumps, rescue boats and operational teams have been sent by member states.

Helicopters and motor boats arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina to support the evacuation of residents and to bring water, medicines and food to residents in the affected areas. More help is on the way to meet other requests for pumps, generators, tents and gas heaters.

Twelve EU civil protection experts are co-ordinating incoming EU help on the ground and supporting local authorities. Around 400 relief workers are now deployed in the region, and among their tasks is a bid to keep power stations in Serbia operational.

In some areas of Serbia the water reached the second floor of peoples’ homes. Thousands of stranded residents had to be brought to safety and dozens of schools and sports centres were turned into shelters. More than 6,000 people have been displaced and 300,000 homes are without electricity.

Bijeljina in eastern Bosnia is one of the worst-hit areas, and 10,000 people need to be evacuated. About a million people, a quarter of the country’s population, live in the affected area. According to police chief Gojko Vasic, no one could have resisted as “the flood waters acted as a tsunami, three to four meters high.”

Kristalina Georgieva, the European commissioner for international co-operation, humanitarian aid and crisis response, arrived in Belgrade on 20 May to meet the government, civil protection authorities and rescue workers. She then travelled on to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.