AND HERZEGOVINA/FLOODS 13 April 2004

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In Brief

This Information Bulletin (no. 01/2004) is being issued for information only. The Federation is not seeking funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time.

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact: · National Society - RCSBiH Chair person Ms Sadzida Rasidagic, Email: [email protected], Phone: ++ 387 33 269 930, Fax: ++ 387 33 200 148; · Slobodanka Curic, DPP sub-regional coordinator, Regional delegation Budapest phone: +387 65 665 747 email: [email protected] · Delegation contact name: Frans Lommers, the Federation Representative, Email: [email protected], Phone: ++ 387 33 666 009, Fax: ++ 387 33 666 010; · Sune Follin, DM delegate, Regional Delegation for Central Europe, Phone: 361 2483315, Email: [email protected] · Regional Department contact name: Erja Reinikainen, Regional Officer, Europe Department, Email:,[email protected] Phone: 41 22 730 43 19, Fax: 41 22 733 03 95

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humani tarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the national society profile, please access the Federation’s website at http://www.ifrc.org

The Situation Due to the heavy rains between the 6th and 11th April 2004, the water level of the rivers Pliva, , , , , Josavka, , Lasva, Zdena, and rose rapidly. As a consequence, the water spilled over the river banks flooding parts of the municipalities of , Laktasi, , Celinac, , Sipovo, Jezero, Mrkonjic Grad, , Prnjavor, Modrica, , , Bihac and Kljuc. The underground waters rose as well.

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These floods came after last year's drought and hailstorms that affected 200,000 inhabitants and severely affected crops.

In Banja Luka, the most affected settlements are Dervisi, Delibasino polje, Karanovac, Srpske Toplice, Cesma and na Vrbasu. The level of the river Vrbas in the centre of Banja Luka town, around the city bridge, is 444 cm. If the rain does not stop soon the settlement of Karanovac will be completely flooded, as well as the regional road between Banja Luka and Knezevo. The influx of water to the artificial lake at Boca is huge so the hydroelectric power station at Bocac had to release water (700 m3/ sec.). This will additionally deteriorate the situation and increase the water level of the Vrbas and Vrbanja rivers. Larger quantities of water from Boca lake are expected in Banja Luka during the night of April 12.

One hundred and fifty houses in the municipalities Jezero and Sipovo are flooded and the families have been evacuated. Approximately 50 households are still surrounded by water and cut off from any communication. Water and food for these people has been distributed by boats. Celinac and Laktasi are flooded as well. The roads linking Doboj to Modrica, Banja Luka to Mrkonjic Grad and Mrkonjic Grad to have been closed, due to the landslides and flooded parts of the road. Thirty houses in Srbac municipality are flooded and families have been evacuated. The state of the elemental disaster has already been proclaimed in these municipalities.

The water flooded water-wells of Prijedor have resulted in the water being polluted and not fit for drinking. The most affected settlements are Tukovi and Raskova.

The rivers Sana and Zdena flooded th e settlements of Alagica Polje, Mahala, Sehovci, Trnava and Podlug in the municipality of Sanski Most. The water level of the River Sana is 425 cm, the highest it has been in the last fifteen years. Damage to buildings, infrastructure and crops is big. A difficult situation is reported in the municipalities of Bihac and Kljuc, where the level of the River Una is 512 cm. In Travnik municipality, 100 houses are flooded and in the centre of the town the River Lasva is so high that traffic over one bridge is closed. Drinking water is under testing and the population has been told to boil drinking water.

The municipalities in Semberija and are in danger as well. The water level of the River Sava is already 650 cm, but still under control.

As the level of the River Sava is increasing, Brcko district mobilised its Civil Protection units. Entities' military units will be invited to help if it is needed.

According to the weather forecast, done by the Hydrometheorologocal institute, the rain will continue to fall during the next six days with some short breaks of two days. Further increase of the water level is expected. Extensive damage to the houses, infras tructure, communication system and crops is expected.

The municipal Civil P rotection headquarters and units have been mobilised during the last three days. On April 11, the Republican Civil Protection headquarters was mobilised as well. It has been proposed to the Government of Republika Srpska to proclaim a state of emergency for the floods. Although some municipalities have already proclaimed a state of emergency, the Republika Srpska Government, during its session held on April 12, decided not to proclaim a state of emer gency in Republika Srpska as human lives are not endangered.

News from the Federation BiH entity The municipalities of Jajce, Donji and Gornji Vakuf, , Travnik, , , Doboj-south, , Kljuc, Sanski Most, Bihac, , Živinice and Gracanica are flooded. The area of Brcko district is flooded as well. , which is situated in the south of the country, is endangered, due to the high level of the River .

Most of the above mentioned municipalities have proclaimed a state of elemental disaster.

Several hundred families have been evacuated from their houses. Detailed information on the extent of the damage is expected to be received during the day. According to het last estimations, around 300, 000 inhabitants are affected.

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Red Cross and Red Crescent action

The Red Cross, in co-operation with the Civil Protection and the authorities, is involved in all activities in the field and is responsible for the organization and implementation of care for the affected population.

The Secretary General and Disaster Prevention coordinator of the Republika Srpska Red Cross (RSRC) are involved in the work of the Republican Civil Protection headquarters. The RSRC Secretary General has put the human resources (DP co-ordinators and Emergency Response Teams) at the disposal of the response.

RCSBiH Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT) members are involved in the assessment in the field, along with Civil Protection. Red Cross mobilised and sent its Emergency Response Teams to the field. The areas that are not affected by floods have also put their human and material resources at disposal.

The Secretaries of the municipal Red Cross branches are involved in the work of the municipal Civil Protection headquarters and they take care of the affected population. It is estimated that these floods will directly affect several thousands of people. More detailed information on this is expected within the next two days. The needs of the affected people, during the first days, will be covered from local sources.

The immediate needs are:

· drinkable water

· water purifying pills

· food

· hyg iene items

· blankets

· clothes and shoes.

Long-ter m needs will be:

· seeds

· fertilizers

· food for cattle.

Red Cross has some blankets, but does not have food and hygiene items in stock.

All International Federation Operations seek to adhere to the Code of Conduct and are committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org For longer-term programmes, please refer to the Federation’s Annual Appeal.

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