European Commission, Press release, Brussels, 20 May 2014:
The number of Member States which
have offered assistance to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina has risen
to nineteen in response to record-breaking floods which have caused
widespread devastation. The European Commission is coordinating EU
assistance, co-financing transportation costs and producing satellite
imagery of the affected areas.
"The
European Union has been scaling up its assistance continuously and
supporting both countries during the peak of the emergency phase. Offers
for assistance by Member States keep coming in and I am extremely
grateful for this expression of European solidarity", said
Kristalina Georgieva, the European Union Commissioner for International
Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. She has arrived in
Belgrade where she will meet with the government, civil protection
authorities and some of the 200 European rescuers who are now working
around the clock.
"Serbia and
Bosnia and Herzegovina will also need help to reconstruct damaged
infrastructure and restore public services as well as to get people back
into their homes. In this next phase of the relief effort we will also
be there with them," Commissioner Georgieva added.
12 EU civil protection experts
are on the ground – eight in Serbia and four in Bosnia and Herzegovina -
coordinating the incoming European assistance and supporting local
authorities. An EU humanitarian aid expert has also been deployed to
Serbia to support the assessment of humanitarian needs on the ground. In
total, close to 400 relief workers from the Member States deployed
through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism are operating in Serbia and in
Bosnia and Herzegovina. Among other things, they are helping ensure the
continuity of key power stations in Serbia.
After her visit to Serbia, the Commissioner will also travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.
Background
Serbia and Bosnia and
Herzegovina are seeing the worst floods in more than a century. The two
countries requested assistance through the EU Civil Protection
Mechanism. Serbia asked for high capacity water pumps and teams
operating them, boats and rescue helicopters, while Bosnia and
Herzegovina requested helicopters and motor boats to evacuate people and
to transport water, medicines and food. Additionally, Bosnia and
Herzegovina sent a request for pumps, generators, tents, humidity
dryers, water purification sets, gas heaters for tents, and sanitation
items.
- The Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Centre has been coordinating the provision of European assistance offered by 19 Member States. Bulgaria, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Croatia, Slovakia, Denmark, Italy, Romania and Poland have offered rescue boats, high capacity pumps and operational teams to Serbia. Austria, Slovenia, Luxembourg, the UK, Belgium, Germany, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Hungary, Romania and Poland responded to the request of Bosnia & Herzegovina for rescue and evacuation helicopters, motor boats, generators, sandbags, tents, blankets and humanitarian aid kits.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism
The European Union Civil
Protection Mechanism facilitates co-operation in disaster response,
preparedness, and prevention among 28 EU Member States, plus the FYROM, Iceland and Norway. With the help of the
Commission, the participating countries pool the resources that can be
made available to disaster-stricken countries all over the world. When
activated, the Mechanism coordinates the provision of assistance.
The European Commission manages
the Mechanism through the Emergency Response Coordination Centre.
Operating 24/7, the ERCC monitors risks and emergencies around the world
and serves as an information and coordination hub during emergencies.
Among other tasks, the ERCC also ensures that Member States are fully
aware of the situation on-site and can make informed decisions for
providing financial and in-kind assistance.
[ Source: europa.eu]
20/5/14
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