Bosnia and Herzegovina: Flood Disaster Situation Report No. 5, 25th May 2014

• HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES:

o Most water levels went down and water levels of Sava river basin are decreasing slowly, at a pace of less than 1cm / hour.
o Mainly rural areas around Samac, Brcko, Orasje and Bijeljina are still covered with water; response activities ongoing and no life saving activities
o Doboj, Olovo, Zavidovici, Zenica, Maglaj are intensively working on disinfection, sanitation, and cleaning
o Around a 3,000 landslides have been reported. More than 1,000 landslides have been reported in Tuzla Canton alone.
o Total number of reported casualties still cannot be confirmed (23 and in some reports up to 33)
o Estimated 40,000 people have been displaced (ref. coordinators at Entity and District levels – shared through MoS Coordination Centre and the Red Cross). Estimated number of people in collective centers is between 2,600 and 3,000
o Elektroprivreda BiH reported that the electrical power grid is still severely affected in some areas (areas of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Doboj, Samac) and is being restored.
o BH MAC reports that Doboj, Maglaj, Olovo, Una-Sana Canton and Posavina regions at the basin of Bosna, Krivaja and Usora rivers have so far been identified as mine and UXOs suspected areas:

 Ammo depot in Orasje affected and presents a threat.
 BH MAC and UNDP are updating maps on mine locations.

o Border crossing in Bosanski Samac, Brcko and Raca are still closed for traffic.
o Ongoing coordination with the Ministries of Security and Defense, the Ops Center, as well as entity, cantonal and local civil defense.
o UN staff are safe and accounted for.

I. SITUATION OVERVIEW:
• Most water levels went down with rivers receding to their riverbeds. Only water levels of Sava river basin are decreasing slowly, at a pace of less than 1cm / hour.
• Yesterday’s rainfalls caused additional flooding in Tuzla Canton (Gracanica and Srebrenik)
• The forecasted rainfall in the North, Northeast and in some central areas (expected precipitation 60 l/m2) is not expected to cause any flooding.
• Number of reported casualties still cannot be confirmed (23 and in some reports up to 33)
• Mainly rural areas around Samac, Brcko, Orasje and Bijeljina are still covered with water
• The entire Posavina region, with the highest percentage of arable land in the country, remains severely affected. Total damage to agricultural lands is yet to be confirmed.
• Landslides and debris present a great threat in areas hit by floods. Around a 3,000 landslides have been reported. More than 1000 landslides have been reported in Tuzla Canton alone.
• Doboj, Olovo, Zavidovici, Zenica, Maglaj are intensively working on disinfection, sanitation, and cleaning

• The municipal Red Cross organizations have been reporting that a large number of displaced persons arriving from neighbouring affected municpalities have settled with family and friends. They have not been reporting to the municipal Red Cross ( with the exception of Gradacac municipaliy ). Overall, it has been estimated that 40,000 people have been displaced (ref. coordinators at Entity and District level – shared through MoS Coordination Centre and the Red Cross). The final numbers of people accomodated in temporary shelters and displaced people is yet to be confirmed, estimated number of people in collective centers is between 2,600 and 3,000.

Confirmed information is as follows:
o FBiH:
 Tuzla Canton: Additional temporary shelters have been prepared. Total confirmed : 564 accomodated people.
 Zenica-Doboj Canton: 8 temporary shelers have been established accomodating total of 590 people.
 Sarajevo Canton: 4 temporary shelters accommodating 177 people
 Posavina Canton: No information available for most, 250 people situated in the hospital.
 Una-Sana Canton - 1 temporary shelter in Sanski most accomodating 9 people
 Herzegovina - Neretva Canton - 1 temporary shelter in Mostar municipality, Opine accomodating 9 people

o REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA:

 Prijedor Region: 2 temporary shelters with 13 people accomodated in one shelter, no available information for the other.
 Doboj Region - 2 Temporary shelters , no available information.
 Semberija Majevica and Posavina Regions –6 temporary shelters are accomodating an unknown number of people.
 Birač Region – 817 people are reported to be accomodated in two temporary shelers. The rest remain displaced.
 Krajina Region- 4 temporarty shelters, number of accomodated persons unknown.

o BRČKO DISTRICT - 1 temporary shelter “Vaso Pelagić”, Number of accommodated and displaced persons unknown.

• Access to water and sanitation remain a priority. Concerns remain about water borne and vector borne diseases. No outbreaks of infectious diseases are reported

• The following needs were identified by health authorities:
o Water supply is still hampered and water purification systems are needed,
o The following serums/vaccines are needed: anti-tetanus, hepatitis A, typhus, diverse anti-venom for snake bites, anti-rabies,
o Disinfection is ongoing but more supplies are needed,
o Mosquito spraying has to be carried out by air and ground several times and supplies are required
o Rodent control supplies are needed. The type of poison and the required quantity is still under discussion

• Elektroprivreda BiH reported that the electrical power grid was severely affected in some areas and is being restored. However, many areas (parts of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Doboj, Samac) remain without electricity and recovery may take a long time due to the absence of replacement equipment and transformers