FBiH Government held emergency session: All FUCZ employees on standby

(Patria) - The Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at today's emergency session held by phone, accepted the information on the situation in the flooded area of the Federation of BiH and the measures and activities undertaken by the Federal Administration of Civil Protection for the period from November 4 to 6, 2021.

The Government tasked this Administration to continuously monitor the threat level to people and property caused by floods and landslides, to timely take necessary measures to reduce the danger to the population and property in the area of the Federation of BiH, and to place all its available human and material-technical resources at the disposal for providing assistance in the affected area and, if necessary, inform the FBiH Government.

The information states that the Federal Administration of Civil Protection placed all its employees, who are also members of teams and federal specialized civil protection units, on standby on November 4, 2021. The FUCZ teams were put into operation as operational forces in the early morning hours of November 5, 2021, for the protection and rescue of people and property from the consequences of floods in several municipalities of Sarajevo Canton, carrying out all necessary activities until late evening hours.

A total of 44 operational employees of the Federal Administration of Civil Protection were engaged, members of water rescue teams, a machine team, and a water pumping team, who were dispatched to several most endangered locations in Sarajevo Canton. Additionally, more than 30 employees at the Stup and Azići locations performed administrative-technical tasks and support for operational teams, as well as other tasks and duties necessary for a timely response and implementation of all activities and work obligations within the competence of this Administration during actions for the protection and rescue of people and property from the consequences of natural disasters, and subsequent remediation.

The water rescue team with boats was dispatched to the location of the industrial zone in Rajlovac, where they evacuated workers from companies located in that area. They also used boats to transport workers to company premises and their warehouses (Hercegovinalijek, Robot), who then proceeded to secure material-technical resources, equipment, and goods to maintain the continuity of business processes in the companies where they are employed. At the same time, several evacuated endangered citizens in the areas of Rajlovac, Doglodi, Reljevo, and Otes. Food was also delivered to the population in the mentioned area.

Due to the consequences of the floods on November 5, 2021, the Messer oxygen filling station in Rajlovac was the most threatened, jeopardizing the delivery of medical oxygen to healthcare institutions. On that occasion, the Machine Team of the Federal Administration of Civil Protection was engaged to transport workers and part of the production equipment.

The Machine Team repaired the embankment in Doglodi, which was damaged by the consequences of the storm, the influx of large volumes of water, and the flooding of the Dobrinja river. Water pumping teams were on standby and dispatched to specific locations upon request.

During the activities, five rescue boats, an excavator, and about ten off-road motor vehicles were used. A total of around 40 people were evacuated from the affected area, as well as several animals. In addition to the evacuation of people and animals, food and water were delivered to the population in the affected area. At the request of the Ilidža Municipality, the Federal Administration of Civil Protection delivered 2,000 sandbags to locations where the competent municipal services organized their filling with sand.

The FUCZ also monitored the situation in the affected area through the FUCZ Operations Center and regularly informed all responsible persons and institutions in the FBiH in accordance with the Federal Plan for Protection and Rescue, coordinating and organizing all necessary activities during all protection and rescue actions in the territory of the Federation of BiH.