IMPORTANT TO KNOW: What does declaring a state of disaster mean?

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Government of the Federation of BiH yesterday declared a state of disaster caused by the coronavirus outbreak in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In accordance with this decision, and for the purpose of implementing protection and rescue measures for people in the endangered area, the FBiH Government determines that all federal ministries, administrations and administrative organizations, legal entities and other institutions shall be placed at the disposal of the Federal Civil Protection Headquarters (FSHCZ), and that competent cantonal and municipal/city civil protection headquarters shall also place all available resources at disposal, which will be used in the endangered areas according to the protection and rescue plans for people and material goods (Plans).

According to the Plan for Protection and Rescue from Natural and Other Disasters in the Federation of BiH (Federal Plan), all federal ministries, administrations and administrative organizations and institutes shall immediately introduce passive duty to execute the orders of the Federal Civil Protection Headquarters. The Federal Civil Protection Headquarters is tasked with activating the relevant federal protection and rescue services (Federal Service) and federal specialized civil protection units (Federal Units), and if necessary, other legal entities, public enterprises and citizens to provide assistance in the endangered area, in accordance with the Federal Plan and requests from the endangered areas.

The Decision on Declaring a State of Disaster Caused by the Coronavirus Outbreak in the Federation of BiH states that the costs incurred by the engagement of the Federal Civil Protection Headquarters, federal services and federal units, as well as additional planned engagement of missing resources during the implementation of protection and rescue actions for people in the endangered areas, will be covered from the funds of the special fee for protection from natural and other disasters, with the prior consent of the FBiH Government, and in accordance with the Decision on the conditions and manner of using funds generated from the special fee for protection from natural and other disasters, the FBiH Budget for 2020 and other financial sources, in accordance with applicable regulations.

The Federal Civil Protection Headquarters is tasked with taking over all activities related to the coordination and management of protection and rescue actions for people in the endangered area, in accordance with the Federal Plan and applicable legal regulations.

It is also stipulated that, after assessing all resources of municipalities/cities, cantons and the Federation of BiH, and based on the assessment of the situation in the endangered area, contacts should be established, in accordance with operational procedures, with the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina to request assistance from the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to request international assistance in accordance with established procedures. All heads of administrative bodies and administrative organizations of the FBiH and cantons, i.e., heads of municipal/city administration services and heads of legal entities and other institutions are obliged to ensure the implementation of the orders of the competent civil protection headquarters.