FYR Macedonia: Floods - Information Bulletin n° 1
Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) Allocated: N/A
The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 180 countries. For more information: www.ifrc.org
In Brief
This document is being issued for information only. The Federation is not seeking any funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time.
The Situation
Following heavy rains in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on the evening of 30 November 2003, a dam on the River Markova reka was partially damaged and the village of Gradsko Baldovci was flooded by water. The Civil Protection branch headquarters declared an emergency situation very soon after the floods at around 21:00. The branch alarm centre began notifying and liaising with municipal authorities to take measures to provide assistance to the affected population ni Gorno Baldovci. Civil Protection units evacuated 750 persons, out of whom some 90 persons were sheltered in a school in the nearby village of Kuklish. The rest were settled in private houses in Strumica.
Red Cross and Red Crescent action
Emergency rescue units from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Red Cross (Strumica branch) distributed blankets, food, milk and hot drinks for the affected population on the night of the flooding. After the broken dam was repaired on 1 December, 2003 some of the evacuated population were able to return to the village. The Disaster Management team from the Macedonian Red Cross maintains regular communication with the Civil Protection headquarters in Skopje and with the Strumica Red Cross branch.
For a full description of the National Society profile, see www.ifrc.org
For further details please contact:
The Macedonian Red Cross National Society in Skopje; email: mrc@mol.com.mk, phone: ++389(0)2 3114 355, fax: ++ 389 (0) 2 3230 542
Macedonia Delegation, Heikki Estola, Country Representative, email: hod@ifrc.org.mk; phone: ++389(0)2 3114 271, mobile: ++389 70 252 266 fax: ++ 389 (0) 2 3115 240,
Zsolt Dudas, Regional Officer, Europe Department, email: Zsolt.Dudas@ifrc.org phone: ++41 22 730 43 19; fax: ++41 22 733 03 95;
All International Federation Operations seek to adhere to the Code of Conduct and are committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.
For support to or for further information concerning Federation operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org
For longer-term programmes, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal.