THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No.1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid1 , and in particular Article 2(a), Article 4 and Article 13 thereof,
Having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Financial Regulation')2 , and in particular Article 84(2) thereof;
Whereas:
(1) Starting on 13 May 2014, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina were hit by the largest ever flooding in modern history. It is estimated that up to 1.6 million people in Serbia and 1.5 million in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been badly affected by floods, mudslides and landslides. The floods, and massive landslides in some areas have resulted in over 58 recorded casualties (33 in Serbia and 25 in Bosnia and Herzegovina). There has been huge damage to housing, as well as schools and health centres, roads, industry, agriculture, and energy infrastructure. Assistance is needed to cope with the breakdown of infrastructure and services.
(2) Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated to collective or private accommodation. Assistance is needed for those evacuated as well as for those who have lost their livelihoods.