Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES:
o Forty-six (46) municipalities have been affected by the floods:
• Most affected at this point are: Samac, Odzak, Orasje, Doboj, Bijeljina, Brcko, and Maglaj;
• 230 health and educational institutions have suffered damage in the affected areas
• One quarter of the country’s population has been directly affected by the floods [EPA];
• Residents have been advised to leave the affected areas; those who remain will receive food and shelter in the emergency shelters.
• Damage to infrastructure and to the agricultural sector will require significant investments to restore livelihoods.
o The most pressing concerns are landslides, animal carcasses and debris:
• Landslides and debris pose the greatest challenge, heavy rainfall expected over the weekend is expected to trigger more landslide active areas;
• Debris disposal remains a priority and proper strategies are still needed;
• Access to water and sanitation remain a priority.
o Concerns remain about water and vector borne diseases due to the influx of sewage water and enormous amount of animal carcass (mainly livestock)
• Casualties (deaths):
o Federation: 7 casualties (FENA, May 20, 2014)
o RS: 17 casualties (FENA, May 20, 2014)
o Number of injured not yet confirmed
• The Meteorological institutes of the Federation and RS have reported that:
o The weather has improved over the last two days with expected heavy rainfall over the weekend; o Rivers Bosna, Drina, Una, Sava, Sana, Vrbas and their tributaries are receding and the rivers are returning to their pre-flood levels;
o Water levels are going down in most areas (checkpoints Gradiška, Srbac, Novi Grad, Prijedor, Doboj, Radalj, Bihać, Sanski Most, Sarajevo, Reljevo, Zenica, Tuzla);
o Water levels are reported to be rising in Central Posavina region (Kopanice).
• UN staff are safe and accounted for.
I. SITUATION OVERVIEW:
• According to the Federal Meteorological institute rainfall is expected in northeast and eastern part of the country (up to 25 l/m2) starting later tomorrow and running through Sunday evening.
• Water levels are receding in rivers Bosna, Drina, Una, Sava, Sana, Vrbas and their tributaries are receding to pre-flood levels.
• Landslides and debris remain a danger in areas that were first hit by the floods (Tuzla Canton, Sarajevo Canton, Zenica-Doboj Canton), water is receding.
• One quarter of the country's population (near 1 million people) is allegedly affected. The most affected locations are Samac, Odzak, Orasje, Doboj, Bijeljina, Brcko, and Maglaj.
• As of Wednesday 21 May, there are 10collective centers at FBiH, 14 in RS and 2 in District Brčko.
• The number of persons accommodated at collective centers is as follows:
• Zenica Barracks – 600 • Bijeljina [schools (eight locations)] – 1100
• Dubrave Barracks (near Tuzla) – 92
• Orašje (3 collective centres) - 150 in each = 450 total
• Srebrenik – 200
• Brčko – 150
o Overall, 40,000 people have been displaced in addition to the numbers above (ref. coordinators at Entity and District level – shared through MoS Coordination Centre –Wednesday 21May).
• Reported Casualties: Federation 7; RS 17 casualties (FENA, May 20, 2014) . Number of injured not yet confirmed.
• Access to water and sanitation remain a priority. Concerns remain about water borne and vector borne diseases:
o Epidemic outburst of acute infectious diseases has not yet been reported;
o Risk of water and vector borne and contact (fecal-oral by type of transfer) epidemics of acute intestinal infectious diseases will increase. o Over 1,5 million people are under threat of infections;
o The armed forces
• BIH Armed Forces, EUFOR, NATO and US engaged in rescue efforts by helicopter.
• Landslides pose the greatest challenge. Around 610 more have been reported (in addition to the 2,000 reported on May 20th).
• Elektroprivreda BiH reported that the electrical power grid was severely affected in some areas and is being restored. However, many areas remain without electricity and recovery may take a long time due to the absence of replacement equipment and transformers.
• Users in the FBiH without electricity (est. 1500)
o Zenica – Doboj Canton 2500 (Zenica 1500/Zepce 980)
o Tuzla( 15)
o Una-Sana Canton - Sanski Most ( 100)
• Users in the RS without electricity (est. 1500): around 8,200 users are left without electricity:
o Doboj (3,000),
o Šamac (2,800) and
o Bijeljina (2,400)
• Mine Affected Areas:
o 70% of the flood-affected area (Doboj, Maglaj, Olovo, Una-Sana Canton and Brcko) is suspected to contain mines and UXOs; 800 sq/km of areas suspected to contain mines has been affected by the flood disaster;
o Landmines and mine awareness signs have either moved or been washed away because of landslides and flooding; therefore, there is a high risk that current mine maps will be inaccurate;
o Mine Action Centre BiH (BHMAC) has sent out warnings to the population in flooded areas on this threat; awareness raising should be increased. BHMAC and UNDP are updating maps on mine locations affecting the flooding.
o Mines and UXOs have reportedly been identified in the following:
• Brcko (confirmed mine explosion, no casualties reported)
• Bosanska Krupa • Visoko • Semizovac • Olovo (in particular the road between Olovo and Tuzla)
• Bosanski Šamac (BHMAC identified PMA2 and PMA3 mines)
• Impact on agricultural lands: many crops have been completely destroyed and as a result livestock has been severely affected. The entire Posavina region, with the highest percentage of arable land in the country, remains severely affected.
• Roads and Transport: Main roads are becoming increasingly functional. However, side roads and over 20 bridges have been destroyed and damaged, preventing humanitarian assistance from reaching remote areas. Demining, construction work and clearance of debris on the main roads are preventing present a great challenge in delivering humanitarian assistance to the affected areas.