Floods across central Europe continue to devastate parts of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

Cities in southern and eastern Germany are on high alert as heavy floodwaters swell rivers. Passau is one of the worst-hit cities in the country, with water levels the highest they have been in 70 years. Dresden is preparing for water levels 5m higher than normal.

The last time central Europe saw similar floods was in 2002, when 17 people were killed in the Czech Republic, and damage estimated at $26bn was inflicted.

Hungary – Floods (Hungarian National Disaster Management Department, BBC)

The protection efforts continue in Hungary across eight counties. As of 10 June in the evening, Danube water levels are on the decline in Komárom-Esztergom county and in northern Pest, as well as in the capital Budapest. In southern Pest, more than 800 people were relocated, as the flood is now shifting downstream from Budapest. By 11 June, in Dunaújváros (Fejér county, central Hungary) the river is expected to have already culminated.

Austria - Floods (National Civil Protection Authorities)

As of 09 June, the water levels of all rivers are further declining, cleanup efforts are ongoing in the flooded areas and operational measures are focusing on the area along the river Danube in Lower Austria.

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.

Summary: Due to exceptionally heavy rainfalls and the consequent extreme flooding of the major river systems, particularly in the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, followed by Slovakia and Hungary, thousands of people have been evacuated from several parts of central Europe. Further rainfall, which has been forecast across parts of the region in the coming days, is likely to exacerbate the problems caused by flooding, especially in low-lying areas.

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.

Germany – Floods (Civil Protection Authority, BBC, Local Media)

Persistent heavy rainfall (between 50 and 100mm in 24 hours in numerous places according to the WMO) in the past few days has caused major rivers to overflow in south east Germany, particularly in Bayern and Sachsen. In the morning of 3 June, 400 out of 1,067 gauges indicated high water; the situation was most critical in the Elbe river basin.

Financed entirely by eleven donors, the World Bank-administered Emergency Services Support Program (ESSP) Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) provided key financing for the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) social sector emergency program. This program was successfully implemented, despite the difficult security context, and benefited the entire Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza. At the conclusion of the project, public facilities continued to operate at the same or higher levels than the 2007 baselines.

Challenge

Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger announces additional humanitarian help to alleviate refugee crisis