Risk and Opportunity: Managing Risk for Development, WB Group, Final Project, Tatjana Mirkovic

1. Risk and Opportunity: Managing Risk for
Development
World Bank Group
Final Project
Tatjana Mirkovic
Serbia
10.02.2016

2. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community – Facts about flooding
• Between 13 and 18 May 2014, a low-pressure cyclone, affected a large area of
Southeastern and Central Europe, causing floods and landslides.
• Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina suffered the highest damage.
• The rain was the heaviest in 120 years of recorded weather measurements.
• By 20 May, at least 62 people had died as a result of the flooding, and hundreds
of thousands had been forced from their homes.
• Towns of Obrenovac in Serbia and Doboj in Bosnia and Herzegovina had most
victims, and waters several meters high in the city from nearby rivers.
• Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Southeast_Europe_floods, visited on 09.02.2016

3. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community – Facts about flooding in Obrenovac
• During the night between 15 and 16 May 2014, nearby Kolubara river,
collecting waters from southerly mountains, suddenly rose several
meters above its banks and flooded the city, catching the residents by
surprise.
• 90% of the city of Obrenovac were flooded.
• During 18 May 2014, the water level dropped, which allowed the
evacuation of the citizens of Obrenovac to be carried out by trucks
instead of boats.
• The entire city was evacuated and the total number of evacuated
persons exceeded 30,000.
• Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Southeast_Europe_floods, visited on 09.02.2016

4. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community - Consequences
• During the flooding period, an estimated 300,000 households in Serbia were left
without electric power.
• Classes have been suspended in 400 schools
• During the floods, transport across the country, particularly central and western
parts, was interrupted or broken.
• 2,260 public, industrial and infrastructure facilities were flooded, and 3,500 roads
were destroyed.
• Agricultural damage in affected areas was total.
• Thousands of cows, sheep, chicken and other domestic animals perished in the
floods, and their corpses present a serious health risk for people who started
returning and repairing their homes.

5. Flood risk map
Serbia: floods - Obrenovac
Elevation levels and flood protection
Created on 21.05.2014

6. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community
Damaged infrastructure in Serbia
• Source: Tanjug

7. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community
Floods in Obrenovac

8. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community
Evacuation of citizens of Obrenovac

9. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community
Evacuation of citizens of Obrenovac

10. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community
Animals suffered a lot during flooding

11. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community – Summarized damage
• In a July 2014 report by the Government of Serbia, the total amount of damage in
the country was estimated at 1.53 billion Euro.
• Of those, 810 million was attributed to direct damage, and 662 million to losses.
• Two thirds of the damage was attributed to the production sector (500 million
direct and 569 million indirect), of which 228 million in the agricultural sector.
• Total damage on the housing was 227.3 million, while the infrastructure damage
(transportation, communications and water management) was assessed at 192
million.
• Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Southeast_Europe_floods, visited on 09.02.2016

12. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community – Need for Regional cooperation
• The flood has revealed the need for regional cooperation in such
areas as crisis management, flood protection and the management of
water resources.
• Aid, including equipment, more than 600 people from a specialist unit
and coordination of rescue operations with the use of EU
mechanisms, has demonstrated the practical dimension of European
integration.
• Furthermore, Serbia, which unlike BiH is an official candidate for
accession to the EU, has been given access to the EU Solidarity Fund,
which guarantees aid funds for reconstruction.
• Source: http://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2014-06-04/political-and-economic-consequences-flood-balkans

13. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community – International help provided
Many countries and international organizations have provided help. Some of them are:
• Austria sent a civil defense rescue team with high capacity pump to Serbia
• Bulgaria sent two fire engines with 10 motor pumps and more vehicles with 16 high-capacity water pumps and two boats
to Serbia
• European Union — Bulgaria, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia,
Luxembourg, the UK, Slovakia, Belgium and Estonia responded to the request filed by Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina
through the Emergency Response Coordination Centre. As of 19 May, more than 220 rescuers from various EU countries
are at locations in Serbia
• Germany sent 15 rescuers with three pumps, five trucks and an aggregate to Serbia
• Hungary sent five boats and a rescue helicopter to Serbia
• Macedonia — 75 rescue workers and large groups of volunteers (150 volunteers from the city of Kumanovo, and many
others from other cities), 45 pumps, 9 boats and various other equipment were sent. The Macedonian Red Cross,
universities and private businesses have organized special fundraising events to support the victims of the floods. A
telephone service is available so that people may donate. Many spots in the city of Skopje collect various kinds of aid. As
of May 19, the telephone service has collected 7.3 million MKD (€120,000) in aid. The Macedonian Orthodox Church also
sent 3 million MKD (€50,000) in financial aid
• Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Southeast_Europe_floods, visited on 09.02.2016

14. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community – International help provided
• 41 soldiers of the Montenegrin army with 7 military SUVs, 6 trucks and additional equipment were sent to Obrenovac. Divers and alpinists
from Special counter-terrorist police unit have been sent to Obrenovac. Over 70 professional rescuers and firefighters were also sent to
Serbia. More than 200 volunteers went to Serbia to provide help. More have asked to join, but it was not possible to organize transport.
Unknown number of boats and pumps was also sent along with the military, police and rescue units. Montenegrin government offered to
put two helicopters at the disposal of Serbia and Bosnia but they weren't called for. Several municipalities, as well as some companies, have
donated money. In several cities there were organised donations of foods, rations and clothes. The Directorate for Emergency Situations of
the Ministry for Interior Affairs sent four trucks with blankets, raincoats and sleeping bags to Serbia and two to Bosnia. Numerous private
companies sent supplies in food and water. The Montenegrin Red Cross opened two bank accounts for help to flooded areas, and, together
with all Montene
• Russia sent four Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft carrying 76 rescue workers including 20 divers and 70 tons of humanitarian aid to Serbia. Specialists
from the Russian-Serb humanitarian center in Serbia were also participating in work dealing with flood consequences by providing mobile
power stations and motor pumps. Russian aid has saved thousands of lives with one operation seeing almost 400 people rescued including
at least 79 children grin mobile operators, organised a special number where people can donate money by sending an SMS.
• United Nations — donated to Serbia equipment for mobile toilets and generators worth $583,000 which was completely funded by
Norwegian government.
• …..
• …..
• Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Southeast_Europe_floods, visited on 09.02.2016

15. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community – Need for Regional cooperation
• The disaster has also provide the need to adopt a regional
approach to handling natural disasters and public support for
such operations.
• The government has been concentrated on overcoming the
direct consequences of the flood.
• Actions must be taken to use this impulse to enhance
regional cooperation or to accelerate the process of
countries from this region being integrated with the EU.

16. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community – Need for Regional cooperation
• On transboundary rivers, international cooperation is needed.
• Draw up a regional long-term flood prevention and protection
strategy that takes into account the entire transboundary river basin
and its entire water system rather than the transboundary
watercourse.
• Include in the strategy at least such major objectives as reduction of
the risk to health and damage to property; reduction of the scales of
floods; building of flood awareness; and the setting-up or
improvement of flood notification and forecasting systems.

17. Flooding in Serbia in 2014 and the role of the
international community – What to do (Conclusions)
• Strengthen international cooperation of the countries that suffered
from flood
• Shared approaches to river basin management
• Prepare of risk analyses and flood forecasts at transnational level
• International coordination regarding all phases of risk management:
risk assessment, mitigation planning and implementation of
measures.
• Improve the coordination of the existing forms of assistance at
transnational level