Severe flooding in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia left over hundreds of thousands of people roofless

Once the water recedes

A new short film featuring first-hand accounts of the devastating floods in May 2014 and immediate responses at several sites across Bosnia and Herzegovina was released by the OSCE Mission to BiH on 18 August 2014. The documentary, “Once the water recedes: The 2014 floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the aftermath of a natural disaster”, highlights the shortcomings and struggles in the wake of the floods.

May 2014

Many cities and villages in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia are completely under water. The worst flooding seen in the past 120 years, according to meteorologists, left hundreds of thousands of people roofless, without electricity or drinking water.

A vast number of landslides have worsened the situation and relief efforts. There are reports that landmines buried during the conflict and not yet removed are in some instances being shifted with the landslides. 

Urgent help is needed to manage the aftermath.

#OSCE Secretary General Zannier authorises 30,000 Euro Charity Fund donation to help those affected by flooding in BiH, @OSCEBiH

— OSCE (@OSCE) May 16, 2014

 Is there a role for the OSCE?  

No country is immune from natural disasters. Under the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship, on 20 and 21 May 2014, the Second Preparatory Meeting of the Economic and Environmental Forum took place in Montreux.  The meeting focused on "Responding to environmental challenges with a view to promoting cooperation and security in the OSCE area." The Forum process was meant to stimulate deeper political dialogue among the OSCE's 57 OSCE participating States.

Recent experience shows the need for strengthening local, national, regional, and international capacities for preparedness and response to natural disasters. Regional and sub-regional mechanisms to assist neighbours in helping neighbours, especially in the use of foreign military and civil defence assets are of great importance.

#Swiss chair& .@OSCE meet in #Montreux explores good practices managing disaster risks at local, reg.&int`nal levels http://t.co/d6VJq43fe8

— Swiss OSCE 2014 (@SwissOSCE2014) 20. Mai 2014