Flood damage being recorded, Sarajevo Canton Government to provide emergency aid to the most affected

(Patria) - Commander of the Civil Protection Staff, Minister of Communal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection of Sarajevo Canton Enver Hadžiahmetović, Director of the Cantonal Administration of Civil Protection of Sarajevo Canton, Dženan Brkanić, and Assistant Director for Protection and Rescue Measures Mirsad Medić informed the public today about the measures and activities undertaken so far in the remediation of sites affected by floods 15 days ago, located in parts of the municipalities of Ilidža, Vogošća, Novi Grad, and Ilijaš.

As Minister Hadžiahmetović reminded, these floods did not result in casualties or injuries, which is certainly the most important fact after such a natural disaster.

"We managed to absorb and minimize the damage from these floods because we reacted on time, in the shortest possible period, together with municipal staff, municipal mayors, services, and residents of these areas. Also, on November 8, we submitted a proposal to the Government for a decision to declare a state of natural disaster, so that the funds designated for such situations could become operational. I want to commend all participants who truly reacted bravely and professionally in these circumstances," emphasized Minister Hadžiahmetović.

The Cantonal and municipal commissions are currently working on damage assessment, and their reports are expected by the end of this year at the latest. At that time, the amount of funds needed for flood damage remediation will be known.

Given that the riverbeds of the Željeznica and Bosna rivers are under the jurisdiction of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the minister stated, this level of government is also expected to participate in compensating for the incurred damage.

In order for the most affected to return to normal life as soon as possible, the Government of Sarajevo Canton will, as announced today, make a decision next week on the urgent allocation of funds for the remediation of the most damaged households.

Director Brkanić recapitulated the activities undertaken to rescue residents and property in the flooded areas, and highlighted the most important ones.

"When this exceptionally large flood wave hit parts of our municipalities, an urgent alert and evacuation of the population was carried out in the flooded localities, in the area of Otes, as well as in the Rajlovac industrial zone, where a large number of commercial facilities were flooded. In the settlement of Otes, we managed to build an artificial dam, thereby preventing further advance of the Željeznica River. Special attention was paid to the flooded facilities of the company 'Messer' and the electrical substation in Rajlovac. There, the riverbed was widened downstream on the Bosna River, which allowed us to save this facility. Material was also dumped at the Krivoglavci site to save the nearby road, and the damaged bridge in Ilidža was repaired," explained Director Brkanić.

He added that after the Sarajevo Canton Government declared a state of natural and other disaster on November 8, the Cantonal Staff took full control, communication, and coordination with all protection services in the rescue system, utility companies, the Institute of Public Health, the Red Cross, the Fire Brigade, and the Mountain Rescue Service.

According to preliminary data, in the municipality of Ilidža, 209 facilities were flooded, in Novi Grad 59, Trnovo 40, Vogošća 23, and Ilijaš 10.

A total of 341 households and 60 commercial facilities were flooded, and 122 people were evacuated.