Soreca: Joint efforts to prevent future tragedies

By Luigi Soreca, Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH

A year ago, on October 4, 2024, Bosnia and Herzegovina was hit by devastating floods and landslides. The floods affected several municipalities, claimed 27 lives, displaced over a thousand families, and destroyed homes, infrastructure, and the economy.

It is difficult to imagine the pain that citizens of the affected communities still carry today. I will never forget what I saw in Donja Jablanica in the days after the disaster, nor the people I met. Today, they are in our hearts and thoughts, just as they were a year ago.

The memory of the floods is also a memory of the strength and unity that followed. The first rescue services worked tirelessly to protect lives. Volunteers joined in. Neighbors helped neighbors. In those difficult times, we saw the best of human nature, the best of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The European Union was proud to stand by Bosnia and Herzegovina from the first hours, sending rescue teams, emergency shelters, and equipment through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Solidarity among partners in times of crisis is a fundamental principle for the EU, a project founded with the aim of strengthening peace, cooperation, and partnership across our continent. When President Ursula von der Leyen visited Donja Jablanica just a few weeks after the disaster, she announced a recovery support package of 20 million euros to help rebuild homes, schools, kindergartens, and roads, as well as to support farmers, small businesses, and vulnerable families. This aid is already bringing new hope to communities across Jablanica, Konjic, Kiseljak, Kreševo, Fojnica, Mostar, Vareš, and Drvar.

In addition to urgent support for the reconstruction of homes and livelihoods, the EU has also allocated an additional 45.7 million euros from the Solidarity Fund, working with local authorities to support long-term recovery and strengthen communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

True partnership goes beyond rebuilding what was lost – partnership means addressing the causes that make such disasters so deadly. Floods like these are not isolated events. In fact, floods are among the most frequent natural disasters with the greatest material damage, and they are becoming increasingly frequent and devastating due to climate change. But natural hazards do not have to become human tragedies. When accountability is insufficient, when spatial planning ignores risks, or when negligence undermines safety standards, lives are endangered. Strengthening the rule of law and institutions helps prevent disasters, as it ensures that people are protected and that authorities take responsibility.

Therefore, prevention and preparedness must be the backbone of our joint work. The European Union is helping Bosnia and Herzegovina improve early warning systems, incorporate risk assessments into spatial planning, and enhance disaster response. We also support better legislation and stronger coordination between authorities.

Floods are not just physical disasters; they deeply affect people and communities. Women, children, the elderly, and those most at risk are the hardest hit. Our recovery efforts are focused on those most in need of assistance and ensuring their voices are part of the reconstruction process.

We cannot prevent every disaster. But we must prepare. We can invest in modern infrastructure, strengthen local response systems, and align with European standards for water and environmental protection. Prevention saves lives and protects communities. In this way, we honor those we have lost and protect those we still can.