Now we can start again FLOOD RELIEF IN 2014-2017 Now we can start again FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017 “Now we can start again” FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017

Publisher Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V. South East

Antifašističke borbe 14/8 11070 Serbia www.asb-see.org asb.see asb_see

For the publisher Gordan Velev

Writing and editing Tijana Laban

Design Marko Zakovski

Printed by Swa Tim d.o.o. Beograd

Implementing partners ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD AFFECTED FAMILIES table of 04 IN SERBIA 2014 - 2017 CONTENTs RECONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES 05 AND APARTMENTS

CONSTRUCTION 14 OF HOUSES This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the Arbeiter Samariter Bund e.V. Deutschland and can SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURE AND in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. 20 SMALL BUSINESSES The action was developed in order to support the normalisation of housing conditions and the economic revitalization for most vulnerable flood-affected families in Bajina Bašta, , , , Mali , , , Osečina, , Loznica, Šabac and Šid. FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017 FLOOD Now we can start again ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD AFFECTED LOCAL 1 561 SELF-GOVERNMENTS FLOOD AFFECTED FAMILIES IN SERBIA FAMILY ASSISTED 4 2014 - 2017 65 prefabricated/ brick houses built

During May 2014 (later in September 2014 and March 2016) Serbia has been struck by the worst floods registered 722 332 in the region over the past 120 years. During the floods 57 people lost their lives, while approximately 32,000 homes reconstructed families received had to leave their homes. The losses incurred have been estimated at 1.7 billion EUR and the damages were furniture and appliances recorded in 119 local self-governments throughout Serbia.

In order to start as soon as possible the rehabilitation, the EU funded the European Union Assistance for Flood Relief in Serbia Programme with 30 million EUR, secured through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) 2012, that was implemented in 39 most affected cities and municipalities. Subsequently, with the allocation of additional 72 million EUR through IPA 2014, the Programme was expanded to 57 local self-governments, not 34 only to provide post flood relief, but also to rehabilitate and improve the flood protection system in Serbia. damaged shops/ Provision and continuous support in housing reconstruction and economic revitalization to most vulnerable stables renovated flood-affected families in Serbia as a part of the programme EU Assistance for flood relief in Serbia, is a 376 jointly developed project implemented by the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) in partnership with Initiative for agriculture households and Development and Cooperation (IDC), Housing Centre (HC) and Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation, aiming at helping small and medium-scaled flood-affected families to return to their homes upon performing reconstruction works, provision of new houses businesses assisted and providing elementary furniture and appliances. The project in the total value of 6.3 million EUR was funded through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) 2012 and IPA 2014 and was implemented from August 2014 to July 2017. The project also assisted agriculture households and small and medium-scaled businesses through rehabilitation 300 of business premises and distribution of greenhouses (and related equipment), plants/seedlings, fishes/fish owners of agriculture households and small/medium-scaled nutrition, tools, machines and medical/veterinary equipment, reactivating their economic capacities and prevent businesses were trained on berries seeding, greenhouses food them from tumbling into poverty. production, financial management and bookkeeping Popović family Rača village, Bajina Bašta

The home of the three-member family Popović from the village Rača in Bajina Bašta, with mother Branka (62) and sons Milutin (27) and Nenad (23) suffered great damage, when outer and inner walls cracked because of the landslide caused by the floods. The Popović family lives of modest income - Branka is seasonally employed on raspberry picking, while Milutin works occasionally for wages. Nenad has disability since birth, so he receives

FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017 FLOOD state benefits for care and assistance.

After the despair they found themselves in, the Popović family is now endlessly happy because their home is completely renewed. The cracks on the walls and the ceiling have been fixed; the roof, floors and doors and windows have been replaced. Now we can start again 01 RECONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES AND 6 APARTMENTS 7

Thousands of people faced devastating housing conditions following the May 2014 floods as 490 houses were completely destroyed and over 25,000 damaged to various extents. Heavy damages have occurred not only to private homes, but also to power systems, drainage, water supply and sewage systems, roads, bridges, and railroads, public infrastructure and municipal buildings, schools and health care facilities. The rivers that overtopped their banks, escaping their usual boundaries, submerged towns and villages, and caused road blockades that made a large number of villages cut-off and isolated, while the landslides destroyed many houses. With the European Union assistance, 39 damaged houses The families, many of them belonging to socially vulnerable groups, that lost their homes with furniture, appliances were reconstructed in Bajina Bašta. and personal possessions, had to find temporary accommodation. Those whose houses were not completely destroyed, but unfit for living due to high levels of water, mud and moisture that penetrated the houses, were also searching for a temporary home. Owing to the European Union assistance, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) I could never fix the house on and partner organizations Initiative for Development and Cooperation (IDC), Housing Centre (HC) and Ana and my own. Now I feel like we Vlade Divac Foundation were able to reconstruct 722 flood-affected homes in 12 municipalities in Serbia: Bajina have a new home and I say Bašta, Loznica, Ljubovija, Ljig, , Novi Pazar, Obrenovac, Osečina, Valjevo, Loznica, Šabac and Šid. - God exists! I can’t compare The works most often included mortaring, skimming and painting the walls, replacing the floors, replacing doors and windows. Many families say that now they have better living conditions than before. our house before and after it has been repaired. We are really happy, especially because now we can Christmas in our new home. 722 2035 2.44 M – says Milutin homes reconstructed persons eur allocated 8 Now we can start again FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017 damaged homes. damaged severely most their of reconstruction received 414Obrenovac EU, in families the by provided funds the With relief for Programme. EU the flood under partners, project and by washouse ASB reconstructed new almost house” and warm clean, in sleep years, two almost after and break a take finally can we thrilled are “We Obrenovac Popović family says Dragoljub Popović from Obrenovac who is one of the 1,018 beneficiaries in Obrenovac whose Obrenovac in 1,018beneficiaries the of one is who Obrenovac from Popović Dragoljub says – says Dragoljub says – help. this for grateful more be We couldn’t doors. and windows new and floors new painted, are house whole in walls bathroom, new wehave fixed, is everything Now home. flooded our reconstruct alone let food, buy and bills the pay to afford wecan barely that with and dinars 18.000 is pension My Urošević family, as 414 other families in Obrenovac, Obrenovac, home, flooded in by Union. European the their funded project the throughout of families reconstruction other by assisted 414 were as family, Urošević sake were not to tried against of she chances grandchildren her. to despair her but and strong, be the floods andher daughter isunemployed singlemother. After thefloods,without a husband to during relay on, hospital for the the in was and condition heart from suffers granddaughter young her son, his of care the over took she and ago years 17 accident car in killed was son Her misfortunes. and tragedies was of life series her by says, marked she As late. too already was it husband her for returned services rescue the when but first, evacuated were grandkids two and daughter her She, 2014floods. May in husband her lost Urošević Nadežda Obrenovac Urošević family – says Nadežda – says in. up place to grow better my now granddaughter has but myself about care don’t I bed? moldy in sleeping days of your rest the spend you thought you will after again, life your to start helped has who someone thank to words proper find W say? How can you can Isay? How hat 9 10 Now we can start again FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017 EU for flood relief in Serbia Programme. Serbia relief for in EU flood the under Šabac, in reconstructed fully were houses whose families beneficiary 51 of one isIsaković Family by home their reconstruct to unable was family the themselves. income, regular any Without livestock. their of most lost they and 2014 Floods May the in damage extensive suffered house Their Šabac. of city the near village in house family a in (20) Slavica daughter and (44) Sladjana wife his with (49)livesIsaković Dragan Šabac Isaković family says Slađana – says well. as life old our but house our only not restore and us helped who donor the and people to the grateful more be couldn’t we now, But home. to our back move ever wewill that faith to lose started we and lost were possessions and memories our All dirt. of and mud full and damaged totally house, our W e were desperate after we saw wesaw after desperate e were of time. working wife’s pension and his son Milan earns by working in elementary school as mathematics professor with 60% with built was bricks without anyit concrete elements. This two because familymember lives damage of modest income – Mileta significant inherited late the suffered house the but cm, 20 was level water The 2014. May in floods the during damaged severely(31) was Milan son his and (52) Jovanović Mileta of house The Šabac Jovanović family – says Mileta Jovanović Mileta – says grateful. forever be wewill of that because and house our to finish possible be wouldn’t it EU support the Without house. of the part only to reconstruct we were able money that With enough. wasn’t it but house, damaged our for W e received state assistance assistance state e received 11 12 Now we can start again FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017 household appliances and furniture. furniture. and appliances household windowsdoors, and installations, and of the construction a new septic house The tank. was withthen equipped The works, among other things, included repairs to the facade, inside walls and floors,putting new tiles, replacing their at use his living them house. let who neighbor’s was family Milošević the behind, wasteland a leaving withdrew water the After food. with them supplied which garden, and orchard plum a lost family Milošević the house, the to addition In home. return to great rescue helped and evacuate suffered loss The ofpeople. their washome for thechildrendifficult and theycouldnot wait Jamena of village Srem Jamena, of people the other the with together Milivoje, in home. entire their up live filled floods torrential four when damages of family (40) Milošević Milivoje which in house The village, Šid Jamena Milošević family Milivoje tells us – Milivoje this. for grateful very I am own. our on reconstructed house the have could not we so benefits, cash child and welfare social on living We are assistance. Union E the to receive asecond. Wein lucky were lost was wehad Everything uropean uropean the project team. project the of work dedicated and Union European the of assistance owingto the heads overtheir roofhavenow a that Jamena village the in families 63 the of one is family Milošević The 13 Marković family Osečina

May 2014 Floods activated several landslides in the village Komirić near the municipality of Osečina, causing irreparable damage to many houses. One of the families who lost their home during the floods is five-member family Marković. Their house suffered structural damage, making it unsafe for living, but having nowhere to go, they continued living there, constantly fearing the walls were going to collapse. FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017 FLOOD Six families received new houses equipped with new furniture and home appliances in Osečina owing to the EU assistance. Now we can start again 02 CONSTRUCTION 14 OF HOUSES 15

Following the May 2014 floods 490 families lost their homes after their houses were completely destroyed in the flooding. One of the priorities of the Programme EU assistance for flood relief in Serbia was to enable decent living conditions to the vulnerable families who were seriously affected by the floods with construction of new homes equipped with basic furniture and home appliances.

Owing to the European Union assistance, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) and partner organizations Initiative for Development and Cooperation (IDC), Housing Centre (HC) and Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation were able to construct 65 new houses in 12 municipalities in Serbia: Bajina Bašta, Loznica, Ljubovija, Ljig, Mali Zvornik, Novi Pazar, Obrenovac, Osečina, Valjevo, Loznica, Šabac and Šid.

197 65 1.44 m beneficiaries homes reconstructed eur allocated Before the floods we were living in an old house, without bathroom and toilette. When they told me they will build me a new house of 95m2 I thought I was dreaming, but I believed them, even though it seemed too good to be true. What I didn’t believe is that it will only take one month to construct and furnish it. Everything is new, we finally have enough space for all of us and we are so happy.

– says Mirko Marković 16 Now we can start again FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017 Eight familiesEight inLjubovija were owing given newhouses to assistance. Union European the small and of grew land they piece on. find vegetables to succeeds Goran jobs for life occasional from earns family The head. roof over their without family member’s three the leaving Ljubovija, near village Drljača the in family Rajić of home destroyed 2014 May in flood Flash Ljubovija Rajić family – says Goran – says again. wecan start home beautiful new, now, our in but hopeless, and desperate wewere that even lost happy. wewere we and home When our was it but of renovation, need in and old very was house our and floods the before even much have We didn’t pocket. our in dinar single a without unemployed, Iwere and wife my flooding, of the time the In in a tent put up in their garden, after which their neighbors offered temporary accommodation. offered temporary neighbors their after which in atent garden, in their up put several months familyspent Jokić The destroyed. completely furniture and home foundtheir they return, Upon decade. a evacuated. was overfamily his while villagers, saving of for and evacuation the in rent participated Cvijan paying floods, the During together lived they and Radica 1991,married in Srem in village this to moved Cvijan (47) veteran War home. hard-earned their lost members seven of family Jokić 2015, May the in flooded was Herzegovina and Bosnia and Croatia Serbia, between border the on Šid near Jamena of Village the When Šid Jokić family – says Cvijan Jokić – says peace. in growing keep on now can children our and immense, O appliances. home and furniture We got home. anew have we donation, Union European the to now, thanks But flood. by the hit wewere life, our and home our made finally we When ur happiness and gratitude is is gratitude and happiness ur 17 18 Now we can start again FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017 Through the European Union Assistance for Flood Relief in Serbia Programme, ASB and project partners partners project and ASB Programme, Serbia in Relief Flood 13constructed inLoznica new houses for families the were destroyed homes whose floods. in the for Assistance Union European the Through middlein the of they were night, the shocked. completely huge damage in the suffered floods thathas stroke Loznicahome in Their May her.2014, supports and when waterwholeheartedly started which topenetrate family into her theiris house backup greatest Her Loznica. near Straža village in house family her Vasićin Ljiljanachildren (42) mother five single her unemployed withlives An village, Loznica Straža Vasić family – says Ljiljana says – children. of the because strong to be I had but petrified, Iwas it. to remember May. Ihate that in like been never had it but here, to happen used Floods to eat. something have would children the so that bread I baked flour. us bringing was neighbor our and cousins’, We to over our moved appliances. A new, brick, 80 square metres house was constructed for Popović family and fully furnished and with new home totally unsafe devastated, it making landslides, these other the and half for reaming just living. between (60),(79),(49)Leposava Milena (29)Valjevo. Dejan near villageVujinovačawas and the house in of their Half MayThe 2014activated floods two landslides above the home of the Popović familyfourmember – Miodrag Valjevo Popović family – says Miodrag – says enough. them thank can’t we and of us all for enough big home new us provided and us found people good Still, night. one in collapsed just so long for worked we’ve everything and were in invested that savings of our All Floods. the before months two just house of our renovation finished We had 19 Elektron Loznica

The enterprise Elektron started the production of different types of machines – dryers, sterilisers and dental equipment in 1986. After suffering severe damage in the floods, Elektron was on the verge of bankruptcy, which meant 15 employees would be left jobless and their families without any income. The water level, which kept rising for four days, seriously damaged the building, while the machines were partially or totally broken. FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017 FLOOD Owing to the hard work of all employees and the EU assistance, enterprise Elektron is again producing machines, while all of its workers kept their jobs.

Now we can start again 03 SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURE AND SMALL 20 BUSINESSES 21

Complementarily to (re)construction of private houses, the project supported small and medium scale business which have lost their income as a consequence of the Floods in May 2014. Goal of the project team was to revitalize their economic activities in the shortest period of time in order for them to be able to generate income and prevent them from tumbling into poverty.

The main focus was on crafts workshops, small businesses and agriculture-orientated family households. Awarded grants assisted the rehabilitation of 376 businesses and agriculture producers through rehabilitation of business premises including amongst others shops, stables and distribution of greenhouses (and related equipment), plants/seedlings, fishes/fish nutrition, tools, machines and medical/veterinary equipment.

We didn’t believe the good news when the people from the Programme approached us and told us they want to 34 117 include us in the assistance measures. 259 damaged shops/ small & medium-scaled agriculture households assisted stables renovated businesses assisted Up until that point not a single promise about the assistance was fulfilled. However the help came and the only thing we can do is to express our owners of agriculture households and small/medium-scaled gratitude and say we are over thrilled. businesses were trained on berries seeding, greenhouses 0.87 M 300 food production, financial management and bookkeeping eur allocated – said Luka Jamina, the co-owner of Elektron 22 Now we can start again FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017 material tanks the renew production. and trout to reconstruct construction received Food DB Programme, Serbia in Relief Flood for Assistance Union European the Through also which were affected families the ceased, of 12 employees. and greatleft damage on the tanks, with the damage estimated at over 20 million RSD. The business operations DB called Food which farm has operating since been 2007. trout in May the flooded When river 2014, Rogačica successful it destroyed thebut farm small a off live Rogačica of Village the in five of family Jagodić’s Dragan Bajina Bašta Fish farmDBFood – says Dragan Jagodić Dragan – says again. trout canwe farm because to us alot means assistance This floods. the in away took water the which tank, sedimentation of the part channel, feed the to complete able EU, the were we from received we that O farm. the to save able weweren’t but wall, adefence to build mobilised were all our the workers flooded river Before wing to the construction material material wing to the construction Union assistance to recover their business operations after the floods in May in 2014. assistance toUnion floods after the recover operations business their European received have that Bašta Bajina from entrepreneurs and businesses 67 the of one is family Ilić The were destroyed 15 on for May 2014 flooded. Rogačica river the when has Bašta Bajina near However, country. of the greenhouses with 24 fields their thispart in producers largest the among being crops, Rogačica village the from seven of living generations been off farming. greenhouse The entire family has involvedbeen family in the growing of vegetable (72) Ilić’s Obradin entrepreneur The Bajina Bašta Ilić family – says Obradin Ilić Obradin – says greenhouses. of the recovery the to complete managed we because to us, alot meant has Union European the from assistance The done. been has work of the part alarge now until and succeeding on recovering in it, set Iwas withdrew, water the When crops. the weproduced where soil, of fertile layer the and greenhouses the away took that atorrent was there Suddenly 23 24 Now we can start again FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017 under the project implemented by ASB, IDC, Housing Centre and Divac and Foundation. Centre Housing IDC, by implemented ASB, project the under support EU the to owing rehabilitated Obrenovac in businesses scale medium and small 44 of one isVeteuro her Still, ObrenovacMay90% byof in 2014.caused water almost that flooded 2008. since pets their treat to Sarić “Veteuro” due damage extensive to stopped working manythat one businesses of almost was office Slavica veterinary veterinarian in relayed have Obrenovac in owners Pet Obrenovac Veteuro – says Slavica – says patients. more treat me help that apparatus better even with working Iam Now by myself. to provide able I wasn’t which but mywork, for necessary equipment centrifuge, and binocular microscope electrical otoscope-ophthalmoscope, biochemical analyzer,veterinary of new donation I received and polisher, which enabled re-hiring of 17 of polisher,and products. their continuation re-hiring and of employees enabled export which Throughout the EU assistance for Flood Relief Programme, the company received two machines – a compressor production the with 17 company the and process that during time was employees stopped. operationally for machines several destroyed 2014 to May in products Floods Russia. exporting and Finland protection, France, environmental Switzerland, and recycling for equipment and instalments, suppression dust industrial instalments, and equipment of mounting and processing production areof design, company the activities father.Primary his of help the with Jevtić Mihailo by managed company, owned family a is 90 Stelit Obrenovac Stelit 90 – says Mihajlo says – again. start me enough to help provided EU Fortunately, income. and job without left be will me, including employees, of my all that afraid I was and considerable damage suffered Obrenovac, in houses private and businesses other company, so many My as 25 26 Now we can start again FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017 – says Milan – says that. on depended solely weare now because raspberries from yield agood have wewill We hope grateful. very we are and quality of best raspberries acres over. 35 wesucceeded to help plant this to start With able finally now weare misfortune, so much After to us. everything means donation This households inValjevohouseholds project. the assistance that throughout received pipes and 150 kg zinc wire for The Matkovićsolid binding and raspberries blackberries. family with is one of crops 19of agriculture acres 10for systems irrigation two acres, 10for net anti-hail an seedlings, raspberry 2700 The European Union donation, throughout the Assistance EU for flood reliefSerbia in Programme,consisted of death the causing of 27 sheep. the road to their village, initiated landslides on the fields with plantedraspberries andcontaminated the pastures is production May2014 the during destroyed Omnica ofsmall river Floods A livestock. and raspberries and plums mainly focusfruits, The pastures. excluding land, arable of ha 3.5 around owns family Matković (13). The Angđela granddaughter the and (15) Lazar grandson (48), Milan and (52)Zvonko sons unemployed receives; The generations. three of comprised is agriculture, mother Milena (74), of is a housewife with out a minimum agricultural which pension, is the only regular solely familyincome itself supports which family, Matković The Valjevo Matković family in Valjevo. in project the throughout supported business scale medium and small 24 the of one is company Nikolić” “Braća additional help. still needed but he machines for necessary their work broke down. Željko invested all of his savings in rehabilitation of his company, Željko by managed Nikolić company from Valjevo.washing During the truck 2014 and floods, hisbusiness, like bus many car, others, suffered severeowned damage andfamily several a is Brothers) (Nikolić Nikolić” “Braća Valjevo Braća Nikolić – says Željko – says enough. thankful be ever couldn’t we and work, daily our for machine valuable wash, hot for washer high pressure us donated Union European The everything. for funds sufficient have didn’t I but ones, by new or machines old fix to tried I floods. the after years three almost after capacity full in working finally We are 27 28 Now we can start again FLOOD RELIEF IN SERBIA 2014-2017 – says Budimir says – sale. for and ourselves both for yield fruitful a have will we Now floods. by the caused damage of the all from succeeded to recover the of finally EU, we support the to Thanks strong. be to difficult was it sometimes but worse, it had who people so many weknow and house our had still we because despair not to tried We to sell. no and vegetables funds no with by floods, caused damage of the all for to compensate time We ahard had lost. were vegetables planted the of all almost and destroyed were greenhouses two our floods, the After just in time for planting. spring Under the EU for flood relief inSerbia Programme, Ivantić family receivedtwo greenhouses with irrigation system high school. from the village of Gornja Ljubovađa. Budimir and his wife are unemployed and their two daughters are going to Ivantić family the is Such families. hardworking these for loss severe equipment, and greenhouses destroying much of and their machines harvest during the May 2014Consequently, floods. landslides in the areaactivated, In villages in the surroundings of Ljubovija, many families who themselves support by agriculture production lost Ljubovija Ivantić family