Today Switzerland presented the Country Strategy Kosovo 2013 to 2016 of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). In her opening remarks, the Swiss Ambassador Krystyna Marty highlighted the strong relations between the two countries and underlined the continuing commitment of Switzerland towards Kosovo’s successful transition.

The Swiss Government has supported the municipalities of Gjilan and Ferizaj in the improvement of their water supply systems since 1999. In order to further enhance the water safety and to safeguard the sustainability of previous investments, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) decided to implement a new water supply project in South-Eastern Kosovo, which will focus on the municipalities of Gjilan and Ferizaj.

Baltimore, MD (IOCC) — The past year has been a struggle for the villagers living in and around Vitanovac, Serbia, the epicenter of a jarring 5.4 earthquake last November that left two people dead and tens of thousands of people homeless. With winter coming and the need for assistance still critical, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) through ongoing support from the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand, is delivering much needed relief to families still laboring to rebuild their homes and replace belongings destroyed in the earthquake.

Period covered by this Final Report: 30 November 2010 to 30 June 2011

Appeal target (current): CHF 409,759

Appeal history:
• This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on 19 November 2010 for CHF 409,759 for seven months to assist 8,000 beneficiaries.

• Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF): CHF 102,347 was initially allocated from the Federation’s DREF to support the Red Cross of Serbia to respond.

GLIDE n° FL-2010-000250-SRB

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation’s disaster response system and increases the ability of National Societies to respond to disasters.

CHF 102,752 (USD 104,862 or EUR 73,395 has been allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the National Society in delivering immediate assistance

After heavy snowfalls and rapid increase of temperature at the end of February and beginning of March 2010, ten municipalities in central and eastern parts of Serbia were hit by several flood waves, damaging over 1,300 houses and forcing more than 3,000 people

Two European Red Cross societies sprang into action this week when sudden disasters struck Serbia and northern Italy. An earthquake jolted central Serbia in the early hours of 3 November, killing an elderly couple in the town of Kraljevo and injuring 100 people. Meanwhile, Italian Red Cross are playing a key role in the relief effort after floods paralysed the north-eastern Italy.

The Serbian quake, measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale, was felt strongly in the capital Belgrade, 100 kilometres

Programme purpose: The support from the International Federation of Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to the Red Cross of Serbia focused on development through long-term programmes. It aimed at increasing the capacity of the National Society to provide services and to meet the needs of vulnerable people, and enhancing its preparedness to respond to disasters. These components directly and indirectly strengthen the communities' ability to recognize, assess and address their own needs with the Red Cross as an integral and recognized partner. Sustainability