BUDAPEST, Jun 15 2013 (IPS) - Record floods in Central and Eastern Europe have highlighted some of the challenges of climate change for the continent, as well as the floods’ potential to spur populist politics.

An extraordinarily long winter followed by weeks of intense rains has saturated soils and caused large rivers, such as the Danube and the Elbe, to overflow. The floods have wreaked havoc in the region, killing 21 people and forcing the evacuation of several tens of thousands.

Austria – Floods (National Authorities)

As of 11 June, the water levels of the rivers are further declining and cleanup efforts are ongoing in the flooded areas; operational measures are still focused on the area along the River Danube in Niederösterreich.

Since the beginning of the floods that have struck the countries of Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, the newly inaugurated Emergency Response Centre (ERC) of the European Commission based in DG ECHO, has been monitoring the situation continuously and supporting these Member States in their response.

CHF 52,487 has been allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Hungarian Red Cross Society in strengthening their disaster response preparedness and in delivering immediate assistance to some 1,500 families potentially affected by the imminent floods on the river Danube. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

Austria – Floods (Austrian Civil Protection Authority)

The water levels of all rivers are declining. The operational measures are still focusing on the area along the River Danube in Lower Austria. National and international railway connections in parts of the Provinces of Tyrol, Salzburg, Upper Austria and Lower Austria are still affected, numerous roads in the affected regions are blocked. The area west of Hainburg is still closed for shipping traffic on the River Danube. So far four persons have died and three persons are missing as a result of floods and landslides.

Austria – Floods (National Civil Protection Authorities)

Due to continuous heavy rainfalls the Provinces of Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Salzburg, Upper Austria and Lower Austria are affected by floods. The situation in Vorarlberg, Tyrol and Salzburg is improving. The operational measures are still focusing on the area along the River Danube in Upper Austria and Lower Austria where evacuations have been undertaken locally. The water levels of the Rivers Inn and Enns are declining as well as the level of the River Danube in Upper Austria.

CHF 178,068 has been allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Hungarian Red Cross Society by the replenishment of their own emergency stocks already distributed to some 15,000 beneficiaries. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

BUDAPEST, April 17 (UNHCR) – "Iraqi families do not come to Europe to picnic" said Iraqi refugee and father of two Abdulrahman Hassan. "They need a safe place to live and to ensure a future for their children."

The 48-year-old Hassan believes that future is in education and his main goal is for his children to finish school and find decent work in their new country. The Iraqi family of four fled their Bagdad home in 2007 after their Syrian Catholic church was bombed twice by extremists.