BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA 5 July 2005 FLOODS The Federation’s mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 1 81 countries.

In Brief

MINOR EMERGENCY NO: ME038

CHF 44,307 (EUR 28,622) HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FROM THE FEDERATION’S DISASTER RELIEF EMERGENCY FUND (DREF) TO ASSIST 1,750 FAMILIES FOR ONE MONTH

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian 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

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact: For further information specifically related to this operation please contact: · In : Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr Sonja Kostic, Office manager, email: [email protected], phone: +387 33 200 148, fax: +387 33 200 149 · In Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sune Follin, Federation Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, delegation, email:[email protected],phone: +387 33 666 009, fax: +387 33 666 010 · In Regional Delegation, Slobodanka Curic, Regional Disaster Management Coordinator; email:[email protected], phone: + 387 59 260 383, mobile: + 387 65 665 747 · In Geneva: Erja Reinikainen, Federation Desk Officer, Europe Department, Geneva: email: [email protected], phone: + 41 22 730 49 20 ; fax: +41 22 733 03 95 · For longer-term programmes, please refer to the Federation’s Annual Appeal.

The Situation Heavy rainfall, followed by strong winds, floods and landslides over the last two weeks (26 June to 3 July 2005) has affected a large area of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

From 25-27 June heavy rainfall hit the area of Central-Bosnia and Canton, in , Tuzla and , where a state of natural disaster has been declared by the authorities. A total of 250 households have been affected, and residents temporarily evacuated from the area.

On 2 and 3 July the torrential rainfall affected the area of - Canton and more specifically the municipalities of : Zavidovici, , Zenica, , , Doboj Jug and Tesanj. In this area a total of 500 households have been affected. During the same period rainfall hit the area of , affecting the municipalities of: Tuzla, Gracanica, Srebrenik and , and a total of 450 households. In the area of , heavy rainfall on 2 and 3 July hit the municipalities of Doboj (with 300 households affected), Modrica (with 200 households affected), Laktasi (50 households affected) and Gradiska – (100 households affected).

Over the whole country a total of 1,750 households or 5,300 individuals have been affected by the heavy rainfall. In all the affected municipalities a state of disaster has been declared by the authorities. Local Red Cross organizatio ns have been directly involved in responding to the situation through the civil protection headquarters.

Most of the municipalities affected by this natural disaster are under -developed municipalities with a great number of displaced persons and returnees.

Red Cross and Red Crescent action Immediately following the disaster alert, the Red Cross at cantonal and municipal levels, in cooperation with the civil protection headquarters, were deployed to the site of the disaster to assess vulnerability and needs in these areas. Relief assistance from the Red Cross’s own reserves was sent to the affected areas, according to disaster preparedness (DP) plans. In this way, assistance has been provided to approximately 300 families.

The needs On the basis of information from the first assessment phase, the decisions to declare a state of natural disaster and according to established criteria, the most urgent needs are for 1,750 food parcels and 1,750 hygiene parcels. The blankets and second hand clothes will be provided from own sources.

The Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RCSBiH) has requested a DREF allocation of CHF 44,037 in cash to assist 1,750 families for one month.

The main objective of the relief operation is to provide basic food and hygiene items for 1,750 households for one month. The beneficiaries are the most vulnerable categories of the population: persons over 60 (elderly households), disabled persons, social cases, returnees and displaced persons.

The RCSBiH already has an established structure with trained personnel for disaster response: a team for disaster preparedness/disaster response (DP/DR) at the national RCSBiH level has been formed, DP coordinators at the entity levels - Red Cross of Republika Srpska (RCRS) and Red Cross of the Federation of Bosnia & Herzegovina) (RCFBiH) - have been trained, 20 cantonal/regional emergency response teams have been formed (with 14 members each) and 20 DP coordinators trained, preparedness plans and legal procedures for acting in disaster situations have been established, and agreements have been signed with civil protection clarifying: the Red Cross place, role, and cooperation mechanisms with other actors.

The RCSBiH has experience in providing assistance in times of disasters from previous years (floods in 2001 and 2004, drought in 2003 – assistance in providing drinking water).

The RCSBiH has equipped warehouses for receiving assistance and has developed methods for distribution to the final beneficiaries. The Red Cross in BiH has a developed and recognized image as an institution which actively participates in disaster response.

The RCSBiH disaster management team and entity organizations’ DP Coordinators will monitor the relief operations and implementation in the field. They will be responsible for verifying the validity of beneficiary lists through a method of random checks. An interim evaluation will be carried out at least two weeks after distribution of assistance. On that occasion, continuing vulnerability and needs amongst benef iciaries from the lists will be reassessed, and the possible need for extension of assistance will be clarified.

Capacity of the Red Cross Society The Red Cross Society of Bosnia & Herzegovina (RCSBiH) has an established and trained structure for disaster response. This includes a team for disaster preparedness/disaster response (DP/DR) at the RCSBiH level; trained DP coordinators at the RCRS and RCFBiH; 20 cantonal/regional emergency response teams (with 14 members each) and 20 DP coordinators; preparedness plans and legal procedures for acting in disaster; agreements with civil protection signed. All this has established the Red Cross’ place, role, and way of acting in cooperation with other actors.

The RCSBiH has the experience after several disaster responses to provide assistance in emergencies (such as, floods in 2001 and 2004, and drought in 2003).

The RCSBiH has equipped warehouses for receiving assistance and has developed methods of distribution to the final beneficiaries. In-country, it has a developed and acknowledged image of an institution that actively participates in disaster response.

Monitoring and evaluation The RCSBiH disaster management team and entity organizations’ DP coordinators will monitor the operation’s implementation in the field. They will be responsible for verifying the validity of beneficiary lists through random checks method. Temporary evaluation will be done at least two weeks after distribution of assistance. On that occasion the rate of vu lnerability of beneficiaries from the lists will be assessed again and any need for an extension of assistance action will be decided.

BUDGET SUMMARY

Descriptions Qty Unit Value EURO CHF (EURO) Relief items Food parcels 1,750 12 21,000 Hygiene parcels 1,750 3.5 6,125 Sub-total 27,125

Distribution By NS hq and 2,000 respective branches

Administrative and general costs Hq and entity 1,500

Sub-total 30,625 Existing Funds 3,750 Total requested 26,875

PSR (6.5%) 1,747 Grand Total 28,622 44,307