EU teams continue helping Serbia

BELGRADE - EU-provided civil protection teams have continued to help Serbian authorities dealing with the consequences of floods, primarily through drainage operations, pumping activities and water purification, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia has relased in a statement.

Pumping activities are continuing with considerable achievements over the weekend, the statement reads.

An Austrian pumping team works in the old part of the Sabac town, while a Bulgarian team works on draining private houses in southeast of Jagodina. Czech, Denmark, German and Slovenian teams are still pumping out water in Obrenovac.

Two water purification units have been provided by France and Germany. They have assessed sites and set up the devices.

A Romanian team is in the western village of Jamena in Vojvodina, conducting a search-and-rescue operation in the urban area, ground cleaning, providing portable water and doing mine assessment.

A French team in Kostolac has continued pumping out the water in neighbourhoods with smaller pumps and setup of the high capacity pump to drain larger areas.

The experts from Netherlands have been sent to Kolubara to provide expertise for the power plant lands mine. A higher pumping system will be needed there.

Means for dewatering from the Netherlands, Poland and Spain are available to Serbian authorities in case of need and the Sector for Emergency Management has asked to have these offers on hold so far.

EU experts joined forces with UN and Swiss Humanitarian, Strengthening Environmental Inspection in Serbia and Agency for Environmental Protection of Serbia to conduct assessment of industrial areas near Obrenovac and Sabac.

The...