During the floods in BiH, many would not have survived without the world's help

After the floods that affected a large number of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina during May 2014, causing damage worth four billion KM, crucial assistance to the flooded population was provided by governments from Europe and the world, as well as international organizations, writes the BH News Agency Patria.

EU provided 41 million euros for flood recovery and risk management

The entity governments of BiH, as well as local communities, were powerless to help tens of thousands of residents who lost their homes in just a few days, so external assistance was necessary. In the first days of the disaster, the flooded population primarily needed food and clothing.

Trucks waited at the border

Marko Sinanović from the Red Cross in Žepče recalled for the Patria agency one of the most difficult moments of his work in this humanitarian organization, but also the importance of the aid that came from other countries at that time.

- People were left with nothing, any help meant a lot to them then - said Sinanović.

- When a truck of clothes and shoes arrived from Turkey, people were overjoyed. Because, for many of them, it was practically the only dry and warm clothing they could wear then.

Adis Alagić from the BIGMEV Foundation (Center for Development of Relations with BiH), which coordinated the delivery of aid from Turkey to BiH, told the Patria agency that Turkey sent more than 100 trucks of aid to the flooded population of BiH.

- Our Foundation helped to bring about 60 trucks of aid, including furniture, food, and clothing, into our country. As far as I know, a similar amount of aid from Turkey entered BiH through projects in which the BIGMEV Foundation did not participate. It was an action by the Association of Turkish Furniture Manufacturers and Industrialists (MOSDER), which they called "One Hundred Trucks," and which was successfully completed.

American boats

In the first days of the floods in BiH, the United States of America delivered large quantities of aid to BiH, and a large number of citizens were rescued from the floodwaters by boats that arrived from that country.

Aid arrived from Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Sweden... In fact, according to data from the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH, more than two hundred trucks with food, water, and medicine were waiting at the BiH border to deliver aid to the affected population.

Seven months later, that aid continues to arrive. The largest part of the destroyed infrastructure in BiH is being rebuilt with donor funds from foreign organizations such as UNDP, EU, USAID, UNICEF, Islamic humanitarian organizations, and many others.

France donated one million euros

The Ambassador of France to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Claire Bodonyi, organized a reception in mid-December 2014, where the use of one million euros donated by France for the reconstruction of flood-affected areas in BiH was discussed, writes Patria.