SITUATION REPORT 24 JUNE 2014 FLOODS SERBIA Humanitarian Situation Report 27 JUNE 2014 HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRORITIES: Continued rain and storms expected for the remaining days of the month. Child Friendly Spaces functional in four largest collective centers in Belgrade (Kranjača, Sajam, Lazarevac and PIM) with over 180 children benefiting on daily basis. Permission obtained from Ministry of Defense for establishment of Child Friendly Space in the collective center “Barraks” in Obrenovac (Military compound). Opening of Child Friendly Space in collective center “Barracks” planned for the end of this week Youth Activities, targeting young people from collective centers in Belgrade established in coordination with a local youth centre. A Recovery Needs Assessment (RNA) is ongoing with the full engagement of UNICEF staff and consultants in the WASH and Education sectors. Procurement procedure for 6,000 hygiene packages completed, distribution expected in the coming 2 weeks. SITUATION OVERVIEW: The floods and landslides triggered by Balkan Cyclone Tamara in May 2014 left thirty-four people in Serbia dead and almost 32,000 evacuated from their homes, 24,000 from Obrenovac only. 1 Although the majority of evacuees were accommodated with relatives, approximately 5,000 people found temporary shelter in collective centres established by the Red Cross of Serbia. The size and location of these centres has varied over the past 4 weeks, as some evacuees were able to return home and others were re-located to other sites. The current number of people in collective centers in Belgrade and Obrenovac is estimated at 1,500. The Government reported that more than 2,260 buildings were flooded, over 1,800 damaged, and more than 30,000 households left without electricity. Thirty bridges were demolished and 50 damaged on categorized roads, while there are 200 bridges that were affected on municipal or uncategorized roads.2 Other reports describe damage on 3,700 kilometres of roads, mainly in western and central parts of the country. 3 The most affected areas are the City of Belgrade (Obrenovac, Umka, Lazarevac), Braničevo district (Kostolac), Mačva district (Šabac, Mali Zvornik, Krupanj, Loznica, Ljubovija, Vladimirci, Koceljeva and 1 The background information was obtained from the report prepared by the International Cooperation of the Sector for Emergency Management, Ministry of Interior, Republic of Serbia, dated 25 May 2014. 2RTV Vojvodina (2014) Šteta premašuje 175 miliona evra [Online] Available at: http://www.rtv.rs/sr_ci/drustvo/danas-donatorski- sastanak-za-prikupljanje-pomoci_488312.html (Accessed on 28 May 2014) 3Politika (2014) U poplavama oštećeno 3.700 kilometara puteva [Online] Available at: http://www.politika.rs/rubrike/tema- dana/Poledica-U-poplavama-osteceno-3_700-kilometara-puteva.sr.html (Accessed on 28 May 2014) 1 | P a g e SITUATION REPORT 24 JUNE 2014 Bogatić), Srem district (Sremska Mitrovica and Šid), Pomoravlje district (Svilajnac, Ćuprija, Paraćin , Rekovac), Kolubara district (Valjevo, Ub, Ljig, Lajkovac, Osečina, Mionica), Morava district (Čacak , Lučani and Gornji Milanovac), Šumada district (Rača, Knić, Topola), Raška district (Kraljevo), Kragujevac. UNICEF Serbia is actively participating in the EU/UN/World Bank Recovery Needs Assessment (RNA) which is currently underway. The information, analysis and needs identified will inform the national recovery and rehabilitation planning, including UNICEF’s programmatic interventions. Furthermore, on 22 May the Government issued a Decree establishing the Office for Aid to and Reconstruction of the Flooded Areas. The office has the mandate to lead and coordinate all reconstruction efforts, in close cooperation with relevant line ministries, the concerned local governments, and development partners. HUMANITARIAN NEEDS A. Key humanitarian needs At the moment Serbia has in total 14 collective centres, hosting approximately 1,500 people, of whom 354 are children, including 11 babies. The impact of the floods has left families that were already vulnerable in a dire situation of extreme poverty and deprivation. The Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy have estimated that 110,000 beneficiaries of the social welfare system have been directly affected and require immediate assistance. In total 64 foster families and 98 foster children were impacted by the floods, the majority of whom were evacuated. The floods are estimated to have damaged at least 52 schools, including 20 primary schools, and a still an unknown number of pre-school facilities. The RNA is currently collecting data in this regard, which should be available next week. In the most affected areas, the resumption of education for the up-coming school year 2014/2015 will be a challenge. The priorities over the coming period should be the rapid rehabilitation of school buildings wherever possible, and contingency planning through the identification of host schools with potential to work in multiple shifts (while the repair of other schools is ongoing). Additionally, families in affected areas, who are already financially-stretched, will need support for children’s back-to-school costs, including standard school supplies, didactic materials and text-books. Support to flood-affected families for such supplies will be critical to ensure the continuity of education for all children. For those children who will remain in collective centres over the summer months, it is essential to ensure child-friendly, safe and healthy environments, as well as recreation, play and psycho-social support. In line with this, UNICEF is operating four Child friendly Spaces (CFS) in the largest collective centres in Belgrade and is finalizing logistics for an additional site in the largest collective centre in Obrenovac. B. Key advocacy messages: - UNICEF’s support to children and families in the flooded areas continues to help restore normalcy of their lives. - Psychosocial and recreational activities for children in collective centres help them relieve their emotional stress and tension. - UNICEF with partners helps recovery and reconstruction of pre-school and school facilities, equipping them and providing materials for pupils so that all pre-school and school children can go back-to- school in September. - Breast-milk provides the best nutrition and food security for infants in a post-emergency context - UNICEF helps educate parents and children that floods can cause physical hazards and emotional stress. Parents need to look after themselves and their family as they focus on clean-up and repair and children should always seek advice or help from an adult, if in need. COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION INTER-AGENCY AND OTHERS UNICEF will continue close coordination with relevant government counterparts including the newly established Office for Aid to and Reconstruction of the Flooded Areas, as well as with the UNCT, international organizations, local and international NGOs and others. Currently, UNICEF is finalizing a joint project proposal with UNOPS and IOM that will aid recovery of the most affected municipalities, with the aim to support reconstruction of housing and public infrastructure, re-establish child-friendly, safe and healthy school environments for children, and support the safe accommodation and return of displaced families currently in collective centres. 2 | P a g e SITUATION REPORT 24 JUNE 2014 Additionally, UNICEF is coordinating closely with Save the Children on relevant child protection issues. As a result, UNICEF and Save are conducting joint capacity building activities for CFS implementing partners, related to methods and standards of Child Friendly spaces. UNICEF and Save have agreed on modalities of joint work and are planning interventions so as to avoid overlapping, particularly in Obrenovac. UNICEF, is also actively participating in European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection – ECHO - Humanitarian Coordination group and regularly meeting with partners on the ground. UNICEF Response Based on the current situation and available data, UNICEF is focusing its emergency activities in the areas of WASH, Education and Child Protection. The following actions are planned for the coming period: A. Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) Planned Actions Provision of hygiene kits targeting up to 10,000 households, focusing on the most vulnerable families located in the 17 worst affected municipalities (Krupanj, Mali Zvornik, Koceljeva, Vladimirci, Obrenovac, Ljig, Ub, Lajkovac, Osečina, Mionica, Paraćin, Svilajnac, Smederevska Palanka, Trstenik, Kosjerić, Bajina Bašta and Šid). Child health, nutrition and hygiene information disseminated through promotion materials, SMS and awareness raising to protect children from hazards and risk of illness covering some 75,000 people. Partners: The Ministry of Health and Red Cross. Actions will be closely coordinated with WHO, Medical Corps International, SDC, KFW, and Save the Children. B. Education - To ensure a normal start of 2014/2015 school year Planned Actions: Support a comprehensive needs assessment of a selected number of damaged primary and pre- schools, identifying which materials and equipment are needed and on what scale, based on the existing legal and regulatory framework for school equipment. Procure the needed school equipment and materials for selected schools and students in an efficient, transparent and timely manner. Provide back-to-school supplies to primary students in Obrenovac. Partners: The Ministry of Education, Science and