Serbia Floods 2014: Recovery Could Cost Billions, EU Promises Fast Aid


The floods that have ravaged areas of Serbia and Bosnia in 2014 could cost the country billions in recovery and the European Union is promising to deliver aid quickly.

Both nations are observing a day of mourning following the devastating 2014 floods that happened over the weekend, with EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva in talks in Belgrade — Serbia’s capital — to discuss the aid response.

NATO is also to deliver much needed assistance to those affected by the 2014 floods in Serbia, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 40 people following the unprecedented rains.

Georgieva told BBC News the focus is still on the floods — which have not ended — and “cater for humanitarian needs of the severely affected population.”

On Monday, Bosnia-Hercegovina’s foreign minister compared the destruction from the 2014 floods to that of the 1992-1995 civil war and said that roughly one-quarter of the nation’s population is without clean water. Some 2,000 landslides have occurred thus far.

There is great concern over the estimated 120,000 live landmines that remain in over 9,400 marked mine fields.

Meanwhile in Serbia’s capital, mayor Sinisa Mali says Belgrade remains on alert due to the rising waters of the Sava river, which flows into the city were it meets the Danube.

“We are expecting it to peak on Wednesday and then again on Friday. If we get through that we can say we have protected Belgrade,” Mali said, according to AFP.

Thousands have been displaced in Serbia and Bosnia in the worst floods seen in over 100 years. Several numbers have been made available for those who want to help with aid efforts.

Some celebrities, such as Justin Timberlake and Cristiano Ronaldo, are already participating in social media campaigns to bring attention to the situation in Serbia, Bosnia, and Croatia and help in the recovery from the 2014 historic floods, which has affected millions in the region.

[Image via Twitter]

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