FYR Macedonia: Flash Floods - Aug 2016

In the afternoon of 6 August 2016, torrential rains caused flash floods in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, severely affecting the populated areas and agricultural regions in Skopje and Tetovo. This led to loss of human lives and great material damage such as destroyed ring-roads, streets, demolished vehicles and infrastructure, including water channels. The most affected areas are located in the northern part of Skopje, where more than 70 per cent of the houses have been flooded. (IFRC, 18 Aug 2016)

In addition to ongoing emergency relief efforts, a joint team of experts in disaster recovery from the EU, the UN and the World Bank have been deployed on the ground to work with national counterparts to identify the causes of the floods and assess their impact on communities and the broader economy. The team will complete a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment, which is expected to be completed by the end of September 2016, to identify long-term recovery needs and prepare an integrated strategy for reconstruction. (UNDP, 23 Aug 2016)