State of emergency in BiH Federation, 14 RS municipalities

SARAJEVO - The government of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina (FBiH) declared a state of natural disaster Thursday after heavy rain that caused rivers to burst their banks and flood a large number of infrastructure and housing facilities and agricultural and other sites.

In an extraordinary telephone meeting, the FBiH government authorized the prime minister of the Bosnia-Herzegovina entity to send a request to the BiH Ministry of Security to start the procedure for asking international assistance in activities to protect and rescue people and property on the FBiH territory.

A state of emergency due to flooding was also declared in a total of 14 municipalities in Republika Srska (RS), including the cities of Bijeljina and Doboj.

The RS government, which is in a permanent extraordinary session, decided to suspend classes in all schools today and tomorrow due to bad weather and flooding.

The government of the Brcko District declared a state of natural disaster.

The BiH Ministry of Security asked for the help of international organizations, primarily to ensure a sufficient number of boats for the evacuation of the population from flooded territories.

So far, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the ‘Save the Children’ organization responded to the call for assistance.

BiH also extended a call for assistance to the European Union Force (EUFOR), who placed about 20 trucks and 60 people at BiH’s disposal.

AP Photo, Amel Emric