ReliefWeb

CHF 147,193 has been allocated from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the National Society in delivering immediate assistance to some 600 families (3,000 beneficiaries). Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

Summary: Due to heavy rainfall in Kosovo that started on 14th March 2013 and lasted for more than 24 hours many villages in several municipalities have been flooded. Majority of these affected areas are situated in the rural and poorer part of Kosovo. Some villages were isolated as well due to the damaged and/or not accessible bridges. Rivers that flooded were Drini I Bardhe, Klina, Bistrica, and Lushta. The sudden cold wave with low temperatures and strong winds all over Kosovo has worsened the situation of the affected population. According to the information received from the Red Cross branches and emergency departments in the affected municipalities, an estimated 890 households have been affected by the flooding.

The most affected municipalities are Klina/ Klina, Skenderaj/Srbica, Peja/Pec, Istog/ Istok, Kamenice/Kamenica, Gjakova/Djakovica, and Mitrovice/Mitrovica. There are shortages of food and other essential goods, as the population was not prepared for such a heavy rain especially since there was not such a harsh winter. The situation is complicated also by the fact that many families have also been evacuated and cannot return to their homes as those are still under water. The flooding has caused damage to houses and personal belongings, causalities in livestock, damages in agricultural land and equipment.

This operation is expected to be implemented over three months, and will therefore be completed by 18th June 2013 a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by 18th September 2013).

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact: · IFRC Office in Kosovo: Shafiquzzaman Rabbani, Head of Office, phone: +381 38 244 878; email:shafiquzzaman.rabbani@ifrc.org

· IFRC Europe Zone: Alberto Monguzzi, Disaster Management coordinator office phone:+36 1 8884 500; email: alberto.monguzzi@ifrc.org

· IFRC Head Office: Christine South, Operations Support, Phone: +41.22.730.4529, email:christine.south@ifrc.org