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Floods in the Balkans. EUFOR Althea and the Slovenian army lend a hand (Maj)

 

An Austrian EUFOR Althea helicopter in a rescue operation in Zenica (credit: EUFOR Althea)
An Austrian EUFOR Althea helicopter in a rescue operation in Zenica (credit: EUFOR Althea)

(BRUSSELS2) It is a state of emergency for EUFOR Althea. The European military mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday (16 May) launched rescue operations in support of the Bosnian army, after the floods in the country. Bosnia and Herzegovina, like Serbia (also affected), have requested European assistance, with reinforcements in “motor boats” and “helicopters”. The European Civil Protection Mechanism has been triggered.

Rescue conditions delayed by bad weather

Air rescue operations could not begin until noon on Friday due to poor visibility, EUFOR Althea said. THE " low clouds did not provide sufficient visibility for air operations. (...) Two helicopters took off at noon. And, 20.000 liters of fuel were lent by the mission to the helicopters of the Bosnian armed forces. » At 17 p.m., he added in another press release received by B2, at the end of the afternoon “ four (Austrian) helicopters were mobilized, operating in the areas of Zenica, Maglaj, Tuzla and Samac. They came to the aid of dialysis patients, a pregnant woman and other people in serious emergency. The operations go "continue, according to the request of the Ministry of Security" he assures. most "important for us is to save lives and support the population in emergency situations ". 130 soldiers and their vehicles stand ready on standby at Camp Butmir to be able to intervene and provide assistance if this requires ».

A serious natural disaster situation

The torrential rains, which began on May 13, continued on Friday on the ground. The state of the damage is important, says one in Sarajevo. Roads are blocked. Whole areas are deprived of electricity and water supply and mobile networks are cut. “Several landslides” have taken place and bridges are being destroyed in the country. The mission was also affected by weather conditions: the house of the liaison and observation teams in Doboj was flooded. 

The Bosnian army mobilized

Six helicopters of the Armed Forces are in intervention, mainly between Maglaj - Doboj - Doboj Jug, specifies the Ministry of Defense in Sarajevo. PMore than 650 soldiers, 80 vehicles, 36 boats, two buses, engineering vehicles, trucks and ambulances are also mobilized.

Slovenian army and civil protection in support

The Slovenians, for their part, sent two relief teams this Friday (16 May), one to Serbia, with two pumps and 19 members of the civil protection, the other to Bosnia-Herzegovina with two units with the lifeboats and 12 members of the Civil Protection, a Slovenian Armed Forces helicopter and a police helicopter. In Serbia, according to information from the Serbian civil protection, three people died. And the pRainfall, ongoing since May 12, is expected to continue with high intensity until Saturday night, according to the Slovenian weather report.

(Updated Sat. May 17) The 4 EUFOR helicopters carried out 72 flights, evacuating 291 people, the mission reported on Saturday morning. 3 trucks transported food and water overnight for the Red Cross in the Maglaj region.

(Updated Sun 18 May) 11 mission trucks have been loaned to the UK surge team to transport equipment from Tuzla airport to affected areas of Bijeljina. By sunset on May 17, there were 782 people evacuated during 155 air flights.

(Updated Monday, May 19) The death toll could rise. Some media speak of 30 dead in Serbia, an unverified figure. A helicopter from the European rule of law mission EULEX was also made available to the Serbian police forces. And a convoy of mission trucks and vehicles, carrying ration meals, liters of water, beds and sleeping bags arrived in Belgrade on May 18, a mission statement said.

(Loreline Merelle with Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

Loreline Merelle

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