The Balkan Floods: Information Bulletin 2

Situation Update

Flood waters continue to recede in the Balkans after the region’s deadliest floods. Since the floods begin, more than 86,000 people had been evacuated from their homes in the past days where flood waters and landslides had caused lives of at least 50 people and numerous livestock. Destructions to towns and infrastructures are significant. There is a need of food and daily necessities amongst the affected population.

Government and aid organizations are working around the clock for the aftermaths. With temperatures approaching 30 degree Celsius and the vast extend of dead farm animals, local health officials warned for potential risk on disease outbreak and is working on sanitation and environmental disinfection.

Red Cross Actions

Since the beginning of the flood relief operation, the Red Cross Societies in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Croatia have been actively engaged in rescue and relief activities, as well as setting up evacuation centers. More than 9,000 Red Cross volunteers and staff are currently providing assistance in the affected areas, including distribution of food parcels to families that choose to stay at home, as well as delivery of non-food relief items such as blankets, mattresses, safe drinking water, food and hygiene kits, rubber boots and water purifiers.

The International Red Cross is working hand in hand with respective Red Cross National Societies, providing technical support on logistics, as well mobilized approximately HKD 5.4 million in total from its disaster response emergency fund to support the Red Cross of Serbia and Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina to provide basic food and non-food items for more than 15,000 affected people. Immediate focus is on rescue, providing relief materials as well as restoring family links (RFL) services. Planning has already been started to look into gaps on early recovery. Assessment on needs in shelter, water, sanitation, health and other essence are underway which the needs and gaps will be considered in the plan for further international assistances which is being formulated.

Hong Kong Red Cross Actions

In coordination with the International Red Cross, the Hong Kong Red Cross (HKRC) is closely monitoring the situation in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Croatia. Cash contribution to the Red Cross flood relief operations there can be made by the following methods:

1. Bank transfer

“Hong Kong Red Cross Relief and Development Account” bank account (HSBC)︰ 002-205490-006

(Please mail the original bank pay-in-slip, marking “The Balkan Floods 2014” at its back, to the Hong Kong Red Cross for issuing official receipt.)

2. Cheque

Send a crossed cheque made payable to “Hong Kong Red Cross Relief and Development Account”, marking “The Balkan Floods 2014” at its back, to the Hong Kong Red Cross.

(HKRC address︰Hong Kong Red Cross, 33 Harcourt Road, Hong Kong)

Emergency tracing service is also offered to people in Hong Kong looking for missing family members in the Balkans due to this disaster. For details, please call 2507-7135 or email to tracing@redcross.org.hk.

General Enquiry

Please call 2802-0016, fax to 2802-0017 or email to relief@redcross.org.hk.